US20040199975A1

US20040199975A1 - Water protective over garment

Info

Publication number: US20040199975A1
Application number: US10/365,787
Authority: US
Inventors: Terrance Kehrli; Paul Ott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-14
Filing date: 2003-02-14
Publication date: 2004-10-14

Abstract

The present invention provides for a conveniently stored disposable water protective over garment. The over garments are produced from a thermoplastic tube by a repeating series of seals, perforations and cuts. The over garments include over coats and over pants and a multiple of over garments are stored in a single container. Typically, the over garments are provided in a roll where a first garment is connected to a second, the second to a third and so on. Alternatively, the over garments can be separated prior to packaging so that they can be removed from the container individually without the need for tearing a connecting perforation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of over garments and, more particularly, to the an over garment that is conveniently stored and disposable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use water protective over garment, known as rain coats, to keep clothes and body parts dry when being outdoors during rainy weather. Rain coats typically have a thick plastic outer surface to repel the water.

Other types of water protective outer wear is a tightly woven fabric, also known as GoreTeX™. GoreTex ™ is a costly fabric.

Still yet certain chemicals can be supplied to leather materials, such as a mink oil, to make the leather water resistant.

One problem with the types of outer wear listed is that these items are not typically available when one needs them most. For instance, when one is out and about in rainy weather and gets a flat tire. Usually, a rain coat is not stored in the trunk of the car. If it were, it would become moldy, dirty and even ripped and torn when adding and removing contents to the trunk. Therefore, one is left to change the flat tire in their shirt. Now the shirt becomes soaked.

Other scenarios where one becomes suddenly exposed to the rain with no access to a rain coat are during ballgames, carnivals etc . . . .

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to improve the field of over garment wear.

It is another object and feature of the present invention to provide a conveniently stored over garment that is disposable.

It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a plurality of disposable over garments that can be conveniently stored.

It is yet another object and feature of the present invention to provide an inexpensive water protective over garment that can be stored in a small location.

It is yet a further object and feature of the present invention to provide an inexpensive plurality of water protective over garments that can be stored in a small transportable location.

It is still a further object and feature of the present invention to provide an inexpensive plurality of water protective disposable over garments that are provided in a roll, such that said roll can be stored in a small box.

These and other objects and features are provided in accordance with the present invention wherein there is provided an over garment that is produced from a thermoplastic tube. For an over garment coat, the tube has a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing outer edges and a skirt length extending from the top edge to the bottom edge. A pair of opposing shoulder seals extend inwardly at the top edge of the tube and are separated by a first distance between their innermost ends. A pair of inner arm seals extends substantially from the bottom of the tube toward a respective shoulder seal. The inner arm seals are substantially parallel to the tube length such that each of the inner arm seals and an adjacent outer edge of the tube forms a sleeve.

A pair of rib seals each being inwardly adjacent to a corresponding inner arm seal extend substantially the same length and are substantially parallel to a corresponding inner arm seal. Finally, each of a pair of perforations extends upward between each of one of the arm seals and one of the rib seals.

As an added feature, a pair of armpit seals connects one of the arm seals to one of the rib seals. When the flattened tube has air provided to its interior, the tube to become round, and the first distance forms a head opening.

The perforations between the arm seals and the rib seals allow each of the sleeves to be angularly displaced with respect to each of the rib seals when the perforation is broken. Alternatively, instead of perforations, a perforation cut allows angular displacement of said sleeves with respect to each of said rib seals without the requirement of breaking any perforation. The present invention also provides for a plurality of water protective over garments that includes a plastic tube having a plurality of segments, wherein each of segment includes a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges and a skirt length extending from the top edge to the bottom edge. The segments are linearly arranged with respect to their lengths.

Each segment includes a pair of opposing shoulder seals extending inward at the top edge. The opposing shoulders seals separated by a first distance between their innermost ends.

A pair of inner arm seals extends substantially from the bottom edge toward a respective shoulder seal. The inner arm seals are substantially parallel to the segment length. Each inner arm seal and an adjacent outer edge of the segment forms a sleeve.

Each of a pair of rib seals is inwardly adjacent to a corresponding arm seal and extends substantially the same length and is substantially parallel to its corresponding arm seal. A pair of perforations extends upward between one of the pair of arm seals and one of the pair of rib seals. Finally, a cross perforation linearly connects adjacent segments.

The present invention also proscribes a method of producing at least one water protective over garment. An extruder extrudes a flattened thermoplastic tube having a length, at least one bottom and at least one top. A pair of linearly spaced opposing shoulders are cross sealed adjacent to the at least one top.

A pair of inner arm seals are sealed such that the inner arm seals extend substantially from the at least one bottom of the flattened tube. A pair of rib seals are sealed such that each of the rib seals is inwardly adjacent to a corresponding inner arm seal and extends substantially the same length and is substantially parallel to a corresponding inner arm seal. Perforation means are applied between each of an inner arm seal and a corresponding rib seal.

Finally, the present invention provides for water protective over pants that includes a tube having a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing outer edges and a skirt length extending from the top edge to the bottom edge. A pair of inner seals extends substantially from the bottom of the tube toward the top edge, wherein each of the pair of inner seals and an outer edge forms a pant leg.

A hem formed adjacent to the top edge of the tube includes at least one opening. A drawstring housed within the hem extends through the at least one opening. Finally, a perforation extends upwards between the pair of inner seals, such that each of the pant legs can be angularly displaced with respect to the other when said perforation means is broken.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0024]
FIG. 1 is a top view of a thermoplastic tube that is known in the prior art; [0025]
FIG. 2 is a top view of the thermoplastic tube of FIG. 1, wherein the tube is divided into segments and each segment includes a number of seals; [0026]
FIG. 3 is a top view of the segmented tube of FIG. 2 in which there is provide a number of perforations to each segment; [0027]
FIG. 4 is a top view of the segmented tube of FIG. 2 in which there is provided a number of cuts through various locations in each segment; [0028]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the segmented tube of FIG. 3 that has been cut to a length and rolled; [0029]
FIG. 6 is a top view of a segmented tube in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; [0030]
FIG. 7 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the segmented tube shown in FIG. 4; and [0031]
FIG. 8 is a top view of a plurality of over coats in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention will be described with respect to a number of preferred embodiments. Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown an extruded [0033] thermoplastic tube 10 that is known to one skilled in the art of making plastic bags. For a detailed description of the art of making plastic trash bags U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,084 to Gietman, Jr. offers a fine illustration and is hereby incorporated by reference.
The [0034] thermoplastic tube 10 is extruded by applying heat and pressure to pellets of polyethylene to melt the starting material. The melted material is then forced through a ring die. After leaving the ring die, air is injected through the center of the die to form a tube. This process is known as blown tubing. It should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that any suitable polymer can be utilized to produce the thermoplastic tube 10 including high molecular weight high density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene. It may also be feasible to incorporate a combination material further having aluminum foil, coated and uncoated paper, coated nonwovens etc as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,651 to Jackson which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Cool air or water rings are now applied, which is known in the art, to set the the [0035] thermoplastic tube 10. The set thermoplastic tube 10 is then conveyed to nip rollers which flattens the tube 10. At this point the tube 10 is seamless.
It should be conveyed that the dimensions of the [0036] tube 10 can be adjusted by changing the specifications of the ring die to accommodate any suitable desired tube diameter and wall thickness.
The seamless flattened [0037] tube 10 is then run through a sealing apparatus (not shown). The sealing apparatus typically includes sealing bars which under the influence of heat and pressure melts two wall sections of the tube 10 together. The sealing bars can be set to a desired shape and size, which is known to one skilled in the art. There are different known methods and apparatus that can achieve the seals that will be described herein, and one skilled in the art can easily determine which method and apparatus is the most convenient.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the sealing bars seal tube walls at repeating positions along the tube length as the [0038] tube 10 passes through the sealing apparatus. Looking at the tube 1, a first position that is sealed are opposing shoulder seals 12. The opposing shoulder seals 12 do not meet each other and form an opening 30 which is preferably sized to snugly accommodate the passing through of a human head.
A second position that is sealed are a pair inner arm seals [0039] 14. The inner arm seals 14 vertically traverse partial tube sections, the importance of which will become apparent with further reading.
A third position that is sealed are a pair of rib seals [0040] 16. The rib seals 16 also vertically traverse partial tube sections. A pair of armpit seals 18 connects each rib seal 16 to a corresponding inner arm seal 14. Rather than armpit seals 18, the inner arm seals 14 can just intersect the rib seals 16 to provide the same effect.
After passing through the sealing apparatus, the [0041] tube 10 now passes through the perforation and cutting section (not shown). Once again there are different known methods and apparatus that can achieve the perforation and cutting that will be described herein, and one skilled in the art can easily determine which method and apparatus is the most convenient.
Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown the desired perforations and cuts in accordance with separate embodiments of the present invention. Looking first at FIG. 3, a pair of [0042] perforations 26 coaxially dissect the inner arm seals 14 and their corresponding rib seals 16.
A [0043] cross perforation 28 connects a first tube segment 20 to a second tube segment 22. The area between the cross perforation 28 and the shoulder seals 12 defines the first tube segment 20. Likewise, the second tube segment 22 is formed between the successive shoulder seals 12 and the successive cross perforation 28. A third tube segment 24 is formed in a similar repeating manner, so that the tube 10 is low divided into a finite number of tube segments, called a segmented tube 40.
The [0044] cross perforation 28 can be substituted by a perforated cut 32, shown in FIG. 4. The perforated cut 32 extends lengthwise through the tube walls so that the tube is now separated at the perforated cut 32. The difference between the perforated cut 32 and perforation 28 will become apparent when the present invention is described in accordance with its use.
The segmented [0045] tube 40 is now ready for packaging. It is known the art to fold the segmented tube vertically 40 along its vertical axis and then roll the folded tube for packaging into a dispenser or container. It is also known in the art to cut the folded tube at each cross perforation 28 so that each tube segment is physically separated prior to packaging. There are a myriad of other packaging methods all known to one skilled in the art. Therefore, each will not be described herein.
One method for rolling plastic for packaging purposes is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,436 to Selle, et al. which is hereby incorporated by reference. [0046]
Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown an unfolded [0047] segmented roll 40 for illustrative purposes only as it shows how a rolled tube 34 can be removed segment by segment from a dispenser (not shown). Typically the dispenser is a cardboard box, but other dispensers and containers would also work. For instance, a plastic container can house the segmented tubes 40. Also, the segmented tubes 40 can be inserted into a plastic bag.
Turning back to FIG. 3, the present invention will now be described in accordance with its use. A [0048] first tube segment 20 is removed from its packaging by pulling at the shoulder seals 30. It should be obvious that the entire roll can be inverted to produce an equivalent structure. If the segments 20, 22 and 24 are separated prior to packaging, then the first tube segment readily separates from the other segments.
If the [0049] cross perforation 28 is intact, then the cross perforation 28 must be torn to separate it from the rest of the segmented tube 40. After separating the first tube segment 20, the perforations 28 are cut or ripped to separate a sleeve section 42 from a mid-section 44. The sleeve sections 42 are tube-like structures formed between the arm seals 14 and the end walls 36.
The user now fits the bottom [0050] 46 of the now open tube segment 20 over his head. He then fits his head through the opening 30 and arms through the sleeve sections 42. The rib seals 16 provide water protection to the users belly and chest area.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user discards the [0051] first tube segment 20 or over coat 51 after use. The rest of the tube segments 22, 24 are still stored in the dispenser for storage and future use.
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown how over pants [0052] 50 can be formed in a related fashion as to the over coat. The over pants 50 are similarly process as described above. There is a center perforation 52, inner seals 54 and an in seam seal 56. There is not provided any cross seals as the over pants 50 requires a complete opening at the top 51. The inner seals 54 and end walls 36 form pants legs 58. It is readily apparent that the center perforation 52 can be readily replaced by a straight perforation cut.
To tighten the pants about ones waist, a drawstring [0053] 60 disposed in a hem 62 is pulled through openings 64 and tied tight. It is known in the art to provide elastic top drawstrings as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,458 to Belias et al which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Packaging and using the over pants [0054] 50 is the same to that previously described for the over coat of the present invention and therefore, will not be described in detail.
Looking at FIG. 7, a hem [0055] 55 and drawstring 57 are included in the over coat 51 adjacent to the cross perforation 28. The drawstring 57 allows the user to tighten the over coat 51 about his waist. A plurality of sleeve perforations 59 are provided which allows the user to adjust the length of the sleeve section 42.
In still yet another embodiment of the present invention and referring to FIG. 8, a roll of sleeveless over coats [0056] 70 is produced by providing a pair of shoulder seals 74 in each segment 72 of the thermoplastic tube 10. A cross perforation 78 defines the bottom of segment 72 and allows the user to separate segment 73 from the rest of the roll 70. It should also be noted that each segment 72 be separated from the roll prior 70 prior to packaging simply by cutting instead of cross perforating. A pair of arm perforations 76 allows the user to slide his arms there through.
Various changes and modifications, other than those described above in the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments and exemplifications, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention thereby, but solely by the claims appended hereto. [0057]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A water protective over coat, said over coat comprising:

a tube having a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing outer edges and a skirt length extending from the top edge to the bottom edge;

a pair of opposing shoulder seals extending inward at the top edge of the tube, said opposing shoulders seals separated by a first distance between their innermost ends;

a pair of inner arm seals extending substantially from the bottom of the tube toward a respective shoulder seal, said inner arm seals being substantially parallel to the tube length, and wherein each of said pair of inner arm seals and an adjacent outer edge of said tube forms a sleeve;

a pair of rib seals, each rib seal being inwardly adjacent to a corresponding inner arm seal and extending substantially the same length and being substantially parallel to said corresponding inner arm seal; and

a pair of perforation means each of which extends upward between one of said pair of arm seals and one of said pair of rib seals.

2. The over coat of claim 1, further including intersecting sealing means for connecting one of said arm seals to one of said rib seals.

3. The over coat of claim 1, wherein said flattened tube has air provided to its interior forcing said tube to become round, and wherein said first distance forms a head opening.

4. The over coat of claim 1, wherein said tube is a flattened plastic material.

5. The over coat of claim 1, wherein said perforation means includes at least one perforation such that each of said sleeves can be angularly displaced with respect to each of said rib seals when said at least one perforation is broken.

6. The over coat of claim 1, wherein said perforation means includes at least one perforation cut that allows angular displacement of said sleeves with respect to each of said rib seals.

7. The over coat of claim 1, further including a hem adjacent to the bottom edge, wherein said hem further includes at least one opening, and further including a drawstring housed within said hem and emerging through said at least one opening.

8. The over coat of claim 1 further including at least one sleeve perforation that intersects at least one outer edge with at least one inner arm seal.

9. A plurality of water protective over coats, said plurality of over coats comprising:

a plastic tube having a plurality of segments, wherein each of said segments includes a top edge, a bottom edge, opposing side edges and a skirt length extending from the top edge to the bottom edge, and wherein said segments are linearly arranged with respect to their lengths, and wherein each segment further includes:

a pair of opposing shoulder seals extending inward at the top edge, said opposing shoulders seals separated by a first distance between their innermost ends;

a pair of inner arm seals extending substantially from the bottom edge toward a respective shoulder seal, said inner arm seals being substantially parallel to the segment length, and wherein each of said pair of inner arm seals and an adjacent outer edge of said segment forms a sleeve;

a pair of rib seals, each rib seal being inwardly adjacent to a corresponding arm seal and extending substantially the same length and being substantially parallel to said corresponding arm seal; and

a pair of perforations means of which extends upward between one of said pair of arm seals and one of said pair of rib seals.

10. The over coats of claim 9 further including cross perforation means which defines a line of separation between adjacent segments.

11. The plurality of over coats of claim 9, wherein each of said segments includes intersecting means for connecting one of said arm seals to one of said rib seals.

12. A method of producing at least one water protective over coat, said method comprising:

extruding a flattened thermoplastic tube having a length, at least one bottom and at least one top;

cross sealing at least one pair of linearly spaced opposing shoulders at the at least one top;

sealing at least one pair of inner arm seals, said at least one pair of inner arm seals extending substantially from said at least one bottom of said flattened tube;

sealing at least one pair of rib seals, each of said at least one pair of rib seals being inwardly adjacent to a corresponding inner arm seal and extending substantially the same length and being substantially parallel to said corresponding inner arm seal; and

applying at least one pair of perforation means wherein one of each of said at least one pair of perforation means extends upward between one of said at least one pair of inner arm seals and one of said at least one pair of rib seals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of applying at least one pair of perforation means further includes the step of providing at least one perforation such that each of said sleeves can be angularly displaced with respect to each of said rib seals when said at least one perforation is broken.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of applying at least one pair of perforation means further includes the step of providing at least one perforation cut that allows angular displacement of said sleeves with respect to each of said rib seals.

15. The method of claim 12 further including the step of intersecting at least one of said at least one pair of arm seals with at least one of said at least one pair of rib seals.

16. Water protective over pants comprising:

a pair of inner seals extending substantially from the bottom of the tube toward the top edge, wherein each of said pair of inner seals and an outer edge forms a pant leg;

a hem formed adjacent to the top edge of the tube, said hem further including at least one opening;

a drawstring housed within said hem and extending through said at least one opening; and

perforation means extending upwards between said pair of inner seals, such that each of said pant legs can be angularly displaced with respect to the other when said perforation means is broken.

17. The over pants of claim 16, further including intersecting sealing means for connecting said pair of inner seals.

18. A plurality of water protective over parts comprising:

19. The over pants of claim 18 further including cross perforation means for linearly connecting said plurality of segments.

20. A plurality of sleeveless water protective over coats, said plurality of over coats comprising:

a pair of opposing shoulder seals extending inward at the top edge, said opposing shoulders seals separated by a first distance between their innermost ends; and

a pair of arm perforations each being substantially perpendicular and adjacent to an outer edge of a corresponding shoulder seal.

21. The plurality of sleeveless over coats of claim 20 wherein each segment further includes cross perforation means for linearly connecting and defining a separation line between adjacent segments.