Permanently Embedded Protective Covering for Articles of Clothing

Abstract

The present invention involves an article of clothing having a permanently embedded protective covering in the 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 only 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 . 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 outermost fibers of the fabric to create a permanent protective covering embedded into and interweaved with the outermost 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.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said permanently embedded protective covering is non-toxic, moisture impervious, and flame retardant. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material may be a plastisol ink. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material may have color, translucency or be substantially transparent. 
     
     
         5 . The article 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.