Seamless front flap assembly

• US 6,668,384 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: J. Adams & Associates Ltd.
• Original Assignee: J. Adams & Associates Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Yung Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria M.
• Application Number:
  US10/414,900
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 2 6/9, 2 7/7, 2 7/9, 2 8/0, 2 8/5, 2 8/7, 2 9/3, 2 9/6, 210/2, 210/6, 210/8, 211/5, 212/1, 212/2, 227/5, 226/6, 224/31, 2DI/G 5, 243/89, 243/84, 244/32, 243/97, 243/98, 243/94, 424/18, 424/751.6, 424/41, 424/750.9, 424/06, 156/93
• US Class Current: 2/96
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/00 Details of garments or of their making buttons, pins, buckles, slide fasteners or the like A44B
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/24 Hems; Seams
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 3/00 Overgarments fur garments A41D5/00; for children A41D11/00; professional or sporting protective garments A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 19/34 Stringer tapes A44B19/40 takes precedence; Flaps secured to stringers for covering the interlocking members A44B19/32 takes precedence ; setting slide or glide fastener elements on garments A41H37/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2514 with distinct member for sealing surfaces

Abstract

A seamless front flap assembly for a garment having a first front panel and a second front panel in a side-by-side configuration, the assembly comprising: a top storm flap including: an upper fabric; a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the top storm flap; and a thermally meltable compound; a bottom storm flap including: an upper fabric; a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the bottom storm flap; and a thermally meltable compound; a first zipper anchoring flap including: an upper fabric stitched to the lower fabric of the top storm flap; and a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap; a second zipper anchoring flap including: an upper fabric stitched to the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap; and a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap; and a zipper.

Claims

1. A seamless front flap assembly for a garment having a first front panel and a second front panel in a side-by-side configuration, the assembly comprising:

a top storm flap including;

an upper fabric having a free end extending from the first front panel;

a lower fabric having a free end stitched to the free end of the upper fabric and a fixing end; and

a thermally meltable compound provided at the fixing end of the lower fabric for adhering the upper fabric to the lower fabric of the top storm flap;

a bottom storm flap including;

an upper fabric having a free end extending from the second front panel;

a lower fabric having a free end stitched to the free end of the upper fabric; and

a thermally meltable compound provided at the fixing end of the lower fabric for adhering the upper fabric to the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap;

a first zipper anchoring flap including;

an upper fabric having a free end and a fixing end stitched to the fixing end of the lower fabric of the top storm flap; and

a lower fabric having a free end stitched to the free end of the upper fabric;

a second zipper anchoring flap including;

an upper fabric having a free end and a fixing end stitched to the fixing end of the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap; and

a lower fabric having a free end stitched to the free end of the upper fabric;

a zipper including;

a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape, each zipper tape having a tooth side and a fixing side, wherein the fixing sides are stitched to the free ends of the first zipper anchoring flap and the free ends of the second zipper anchoring flap, respectively.

2. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the lower fabric of the top storm flap is stitched to the free end of the upper fabric of the top storm flap by concealed stitching.

3. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap is stitched to the free end of the upper fabric of the bottom storm flap by concealed stitching.

4. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the lower fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap is stitched to the free end of the upper fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap by concealed stitching.

5. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 4, wherein the upper fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap further includes a thermal tape provided at where the fixing end of the upper fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap is stitched to the fixing end of the lower fabric of the top storm flap.

6. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the lower fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap is stitched to the free end of the upper fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap by concealed stitching.

7. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 6, wherein the upper fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap further includes a thermal tape at where the fixing end of the upper fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap is stitched to the fixing end of the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap.

8. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the free ends of the upper fabric and lower fabric of the bottom storm flap are folded over towards the upper fabric of the bottom storm flap and stitched to the upper fabric of the bottom storm flap at opposing ends to form a gutter.

9. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower fabrics of the first and second zipper anchoring flaps each include a free end being stitched to the lining of the jacket.

10. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second front panels and, the outer and bottom storm flaps, the first and second zipper anchoring flaps, and the first and second zipper tapes are impregnated woven fabric.

11. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second front panels and, the outer and bottom storm flaps, the first and second zipper anchoring flaps, and the first and second zipper tapes are non-impregnated woven fabric.

12. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thermally meltable compound is a thermally meltable polyurethane resin.

13. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the thermally meltable polyurethane resin is heated by a thermal welding machine to result in adhesion effects.

14. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bottom storm flap extends beyond where the tooth sides engage, and the top storm flap extends above the bottom storm flap.

15. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 14, further comprising:

matching fasteners provided to the lower fabric of the top storm flap and the top layer fabric of the bottom storm flap, respectively, to allow proper attachment of the top storm flap to the bottom storm flap upon engagement of the zipper tapes.

16. A seamless front flap assembly for a garment having a first front panel and a second front panel in a side-by-side configuration, the assembly comprising:

a top storm flap including;

an upper fabric extending from the first front panel;

a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the top storm flap by concealed stitching; and

a thermally meltable compound for adhering the upper fabric to the lower fabric of the top storm flap;

a bottom storm flap including;

an upper fabric extending from the second front panel;

a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the bottom storm flap by concealed stitching; and

a thermally meltable compound for adhering the upper fabric to the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap;

a first zipper anchoring flap including;

an upper fabric stitched to the lower fabric of the top storm flap; and

a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap by concealed stitching;

a second zipper anchoring flap including;

an upper fabric stitched to the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap; and

a lower fabric stitched to the upper fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap by concealed stitching; and

a zipper including;

a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape, each zipper tape being stitched to the first zipper anchoring flap and the second zipper anchoring flap, respectively.

17. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the upper fabric and lower fabric of the bottom storm flap are folded over towards the upper fabric of the bottom storm flap and stitched to the upper fabric of the bottom storm flap at opposing ends to form a gutter.

18. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the upper fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap further includes a thermal tape positioned where the upper fabric of the first zipper anchoring flap is stitched to the lower fabric of the top storm flap, and wherein the upper fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap further includes a thermal tape at where the upper fabric of the second zipper anchoring flap is stitched to the lower fabric of the bottom storm flap.

19. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the bottom storm flap extends beyond where the tooth sides engage, and the top storm flap extends above the bottom storm flap.

20. The seamless front panel assembly according to claim 19, further comprising:

matching fasteners provided to the lower fabric of the top storm flap and the top layer fabric of the bottom storm flap, respectively, to allow proper attachment of the top storm flap to the bottom storm flap upon engagement of the zipper tapes.