US2008040837A1PendingUtilityA1

Airtight waterproof zipper, method for mounting the same, and article incorporating the same

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 18, 2006Filed: Jan 30, 2007Published: Feb 21, 2008
Est. expiryAug 18, 2026(~0 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Rodney L. KingPhyllis GrimmRobert M. Beaton
A41D 13/012A41D 27/00A44B 19/32
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PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

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.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
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.

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