Permanently Embedded Protective Covering for Articles of Clothing

Abstract

The present invention involves a method for permanently embedding a protective covering in an article of clothing over at least one predetermined portion of the clothing that can be worn by infants, children and adults. The protective covering is made from a thermoplastic material that is applied to and thermally bonds or co-mingles with the outermost fabric fibers of the clothing creating a permanently embedded, liquid impermeable, non-porous protective covering, including an increased height edge, which covering retains the same flexibility as the underlying fabric of the clothing article. The protective covering can be positioned across the top front portion of the clothing article and extend downward to a lower portion of the front of the clothing article creating an easy to clean particle and dirt resistant covering for the clothing article.

1 . A method for permanently embedding in an article of clothing a non-porous impermeable protective covering into at least one area of the article of clothing comprising the steps of:
 providing an article of clothing to be worn by an infant, child or adult that may be of woven or non-woven fibers, said article of clothing having exterior and interior surfaces;   printing a thermoplastic material onto at least one predetermined area of the exterior of the article of clothing at increased temperature and pressure for a period of time sufficient for the thermoplastic to penetrate only into the top garment fibers of the fabric of the article of clothing;   cooling the thermoplastic material immediately following said period of time to create a permanent non-porous impermeable protective covering embedded into and interweaved with the top garment fibers of the predetermined area of said article of clothing without penetrating to the interior surface thereof such that a main portion of the protective covering is formed with an edge portion along the outer edges of the main portion of the protective covering, said edge portion being formed with an increased thickness greater than that of the main portion of the protective covering and an extended width for retarding outflow of materials from the main portion of the protective covering, said protective covering retaining the flexibility of the underlying article of clothing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined area of the article of clothing for embedding the protective covering is selected from the group consisting of the upper front portion, the upper and mid front portions, the lower arm portions, and the lower and mid arm portions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said permanently embedded protective covering is non-toxic, moisture impervious, and flame retardant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material may be a plastisol ink. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material may have color, translucency, or be substantially transparent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature to thermally bond the thermoplastic material to the underlying fabric of the article of clothing is in a range between 150° F. to 330° F. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said temperature is preferably in a range between 150° F. to 200° F. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formed edge portion of the protective covering has an increased thickness in the range between 1-3 mm above the surface of the main portion of the protective covering and the surface of the article of clothing and a width in the range between 0.5 and 1.5 cm. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An article of clothing to be worn by an infant, child or adult comprising:
 a fabric that may be of woven or non-woven fibers having exterior and interior surfaces;   a thermoplastic material printed onto at least one predetermined area of the exterior surface of the article of clothing transferring the thermoplastic into the top fibers of the fabric to create a permanent protective covering embedded into and interweaved with the top fibers of said at least one predetermined area of said article of clothing without penetrating to the interior surface thereof;   said thermoplastic material forming a main portion of the protective covering with an edge portion along the outer edges of the main portion of the protective covering, said edge portion being formed with an increased thickness greater than that of the main portion of the protective covering and an extended width for retarding outflow of materials from the main portion of the protective covering; and,   said protective covering retaining the flexibility of the underlying fabric.   
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein said permanently embedded protective covering is non-toxic, moisture impervious, and flame retardant. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material may be a plastisol ink. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material may have color, translucency or be substantially transparent. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the formed edge portion of the protective covering has an increased thickness in the range between 1-3 mm above the surface of the main portion of the protective covering and the surface of the article of clothing and a width in the range between 0.5 and 1.5 cm.