Garment closure

Abstract

A closure for use on protective garments is defined by two oppositely-facing, longitudinally-extending edges of fabric having an opening therebetween as a slide fastener spanning the opening. A longitudinal channel is provided adjacent the fastener and formed by layers of the fabric for collecting and discharging materials out an opening and into an optional receptacle. The channel is formed by folding an outer front panel of the garment back onto itself. The zipper is then stitched to the interior end portion and a patch along a first stitch line. The patch is folded back on itself and the opposite end of the patch is stitched to the outer front panel of the garment along a second stitch line. Seal tape is placed over the second stitch line, thereby forming a sealed channel between the outer layer of the garment and the patch layer between the first stitch line and the second stitch line. Any gases, vapors and liquids that might otherwise penetrate the stitch lines are passed into the channel, and drained away from the user. A flap may also be added over the front of the closure to cover a portion of the fastener and the channel and provide an additional layer of protection.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A closure between two longitudinal edges of a garment defining an opening therebetween, said closure comprising: 
 a first garment layer having an inner and outer surface, wherein an edge of said first garment layer is folder back on itself forming a second garment layer;    a first fastener having a connecting piece forming a third layer;    a fourth garment layer, wherein an edge of said fourth garment layer is folded back on itself forming a fifth garment layer;    a first stitched seam through said second, third and fifth layers for securing said second, third and fifth layers together; and    a second stitched seam through said first and fourth layers for securing said first and fourth layers together,    wherein said first through fifth layers and said first and second stitched seams form a first channel.    
     
     
         2 . The closure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a seal tape covering the second stitched seam.  
     
     
         3 . The closure according to  claim 2 , wherein said seal tape is attached to said first garment layer and said fourth garment layer by adhesive.  
     
     
         4 . The closure according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sixth garment layer in the form of a loop, wherein a portion of said sixth garment layer is adjacent the outer surface of said first garment layer; and    a third stitched seam through said first and sixth adjacent layers for securing said sixth garment layer loop and said first layer together, wherein said third stitch penetrates said first layer between said first and second stitches,    wherein said sixth garment loop and said third stitched seam form a second longitudinally extending channel substantially parallel the first longitudinally extending channel.    
     
     
         5 . The closure according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a fourth stitched seam through said first and sixth adjacent layers adjacent said third stitched seam for further securing said sixth garment layer loop and said first layer together,    wherein said fourth stitch penetrates said first layer between said first and second stitches.    
     
     
         6 . The closure of according to  claim 4 , further comprising a second fastener attached to said sixth garment layer loop.  
     
     
         7 . The closure according to  claim 6 , wherein said fastener comprises one of hooks and loops, a button, a snap, and a zipper.  
     
     
         8 . The closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said garment layers are made of polyester.  
     
     
         9 . The closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said garment layers and said tape layer are impermeable to vapor.  
     
     
         10 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first fastener is a zipper comprising a pair of oppositely facing, longitudinally extending stringer tapes each having a first and a second side, a plurality of equally spaced cones projecting from the edge of one of the stringer tapes, a corresponding plurality of equally spaced cups projecting from the edge of the other stringer tape, and a slide movably engaging said cones and cups to open and close said zipper.  
     
     
         11 . The closure according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a receptacle adjacent the opening of said first channel,    wherein materials inside said first channel are discharged into said receptacle.    
     
     
         12 . The closure according to  claim 11 , wherein said receptacle is one of a tube and a pocket.  
     
     
         13 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said garment layers form part of a chemical protective suit.  
     
     
         14 . A closure between two longitudinal edges of a garment defining an opening therebetween, said closure comprising: 
 a first garment layer having an inner and outer surface, wherein an edge of said first garment layer is folder back on itself forming a second garment layer;    a first fastener having a connecting piece forming a third layer;    a fourth garment layer, wherein an edge of said fourth garment layer is folded back on itself forming a fifth garment layer;    a sixth garment layer in the form of a loop, wherein a portion of said sixth garment layer is adjacent the outer surface of said first garment layer;    a first stitched seam through said second, third and fifth layers for securing said second, third and fifth layers together;    a second stitched seam through said first and fourth layers for securing said first and fourth layers together; and    a third stitched seam through said first and sixth adjacent layers for securing said sixth garment layer loop and said first layer together, wherein said third stitch penetrates said first layer between said first and second stitches,    wherein said first through fifth layers and said first and second stitched seams form a first channel and wherein said sixth garment loop and said third stitched seam form a second channel.    
     
     
         15 . The closure according to  claim 14 , further comprising a seal tape covering the second stitched seam and wherein said seal tape is attached to said first garment layer and said fourth garment layer by adhesive.  
     
     
         16 . The closure according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a fourth stitched seam through said first and sixth adjacent layers adjacent said third stitched seam further securing said sixth garment layer loop and said first layer together,    wherein said fourth stitch penetrates said first layer between said first and second stitches.    
     
     
         17 . The closure according to  claim 14 , further comprising a second fastener attached to said sixth garment layer loop, wherein said fastener comprises one of hooks and loops, buttons, snaps, and zippers.  
     
     
         18 . The closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said garment layers are made of polyester.  
     
     
         19 . The closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said garment layers and said tape layer are impermeable to vapor.  
     
     
         20 . The closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said fastener is a zipper comprising a pair of oppositely facing, longitudinally extending stringer tapes each having a first and a second side, a plurality of equally spaced cones projecting from the edge of one of the stringer tapes, a corresponding plurality of equally spaced cups projecting from the edge of the other stringer tape, and a slide movably engaging said cones and cups to open and close said zipper.  
     
     
         21 . The closure according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a receptacle adjacent the opening of said first channel,    wherein materials inside said first channel are discharged into said receptacle.    
     
     
         22 . The closure according to  claim 21 , wherein said receptacle is one of a tube and a pocket.  
     
     
         23 . The closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said garment layers form part of a chemical protective suit.  
     
     
         24 . A closure between two longitudinal edges of a garment defining an opening therebetween, said closure comprising: 
 closure means for opening and closing a garment closure;    channel means attached to said closure means for collecting and discharging materials inside said channel means;    first seam means for connecting said closure means and said channel means together;    cover means attached to said channel means for covering a portion of said closure means and said channel means;    second seam means for connecting said cover means to said channel means; and    receptacle means adjacent said channel means for receiving materials discharging from said channel means.    
     
     
         25 . The closure according to  claim 24 , further comprising seal tape means adhered to said channel means for seam sealing.  
     
     
         26 . The closure according to  claim 24 , further comprising fastener means attached to said cover means, for securing said cover means over said closure means.  
     
     
         27 . The closure according to  claim 24 , wherein said closure means and said cover means are made of polyester fabric.  
     
     
         28 . The closure according to  claim 24 , wherein said closure means is a zipper comprising a pair of oppositely facing, longitudinally extending stringer tapes each having a first and a second side, a plurality of equally spaced cones projecting from the edge of one of the stringer tapes, a corresponding plurality of equally spaced cups projecting from the edge of the other stringer tape, and a slide movably engaging said cones and cups to open and close said zipper.  
     
     
         29 . The closure according to  claim 24 , wherein said receptacle means is one of a tube and a pocket.  
     
     
         30 . The closure according to  claim 24 , wherein said closure means, channel means, cover means and receptacle means form part of a chemical protective suit.  
     
     
         31 . A garment comprising: 
 a front panel section having an end section and a connect point set apart from the end;    a patch segment having a first end connected to the end section of said front panel section, and a second end connected to the connect point of said front panel section, wherein said front panel section and said patch form a channel therebetween; and,    a seal tape sealing the connection between the second end of said patch segment and the connect point of said front panel section.    
     
     
         32 . The garment of  claim 31 , further comprising a first seam connecting the end section of said front panel section to the first end of said patch segment, and a second seam connecting the connect point of said front panel section to the second end of said patch segment.  
     
     
         33 . The garment of  claim 31 , wherein the end section is reversely bent with respect to said front panel section.  
     
     
         34 . The garment of  claim 31 , wherein the first end of said patch is reversely bent with respect to said patch.