Self-Sealing Fastener Overlap Design for Protective Garments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal protective apparel faces challenges in sealing openings effectively to prevent liquid and particulate intrusion, as these openings must be present for donning and sealing, leading to potential weak points in the garment's barrier integrity.
Innovation Solution
A fastener assembly comprising two tapes with cooperating fastener elements, where the second edge of each tape overlaps and covers the meshed area, with the second edge extending past the meshed area, ensuring complete sealing. This assembly is integrated into the garment using specific stitching techniques that avoid penetrating the tapes, and additional closing devices can be used for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If openings are present in protective apparel for donning, then the apparel can be worn, but the openings create potential weak points that compromise barrier integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is divided into multiple segments: the fastener elements create a meshed area, and the second edge of the fastener tape creates an overlap seal. This segmentation allows the opening to maintain both accessibility for donning and sealed closure for barrier integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The second edge of the fastener tape is pre-configured to overlap and seal the meshed area of fastener elements. This preliminary sealing action ensures that once the fastener is closed, the barrier integrity is automatically restored without requiring additional sealing steps.
2Reliability
If the second edge of the fastener tape is extended to overlap and cover the meshed area, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the fastener assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the fastener tape itself. The second edge of the fastener tape serves dual purposes: it provides structural support for the fastener and simultaneously creates the overlap seal. This eliminates the need for separate sealing components, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The second edge of the fastener tape performs multiple functions: it reinforces the fastener structure, covers the meshed area, and creates the overlap seal. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall assembly.
3Strength
If stitches are used to attach the fastener assembly to the garment, then secure attachment is achieved, but the stitches may penetrate the tapes and compromise the barrier
Solution Approach 1:
The stitching is applied only to the first edge of the fastener tape, which does not require barrier protection. The second edge, which forms the seal, is left unstitched to maintain its continuous barrier quality. This localized stitching approach maintains both attachment strength and barrier integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The first edge of the fastener tape acts as an intermediary that provides attachment points for stitching without compromising the barrier function. The barrier-critical second edge is protected from stitches by using the first edge as the attachment interface.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
This invention relates to a fastener assembly and garment comprising same having a first fastener tape (2) and a second fastener tape (3), and a first edge and a second edge, the first edge having a row of cooperating fastener elements (1) mounted thereon; wherein the second edge of each of the first and second fastener tapes is folded parallel to its row of cooperating fastener elements such that when the fastener is closed, and a meshed area of fastener elements from the first and second fastener tapes is formed, i) the second edges of each of the first and second fastener tapes overlap, ii) the second edge of the first fastener tape (2) fully covers the meshed area of fastening elements, and iii) the overlap of the second edge of the first fastener tape (2) by the second edge of the second fastener tape (3) extends past the meshed area of fastening elements (1).