Protective garment and seam tape used therewith
A protective garment is disclosed that is reusable and can be relaundered over 70 times. The garment is made from a single layer barrier fabric. Any seams on the protective fabric are covered with a seam tape. The seam tape can include an adhesive layer, a cover layer, and an optional film layer positioned between the cover layer and the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer can be a crosslinkable polyester polymer.
1 . A protective garment comprising:
a body portion having at least a front section, the body portion being connected to a first sleeve and to a second and opposite sleeve, each sleeve defining a hollow tubular portion for receiving a corresponding arm of a user, the body portion, the first sleeve, and the second sleeve being made from a fabric, the fabric that comprises the body portion, the first sleeve, and the second sleeve having been treated with a durable water-resistant treatment, the fabric having a basis weight of from about 0.5 osy to about 4 osy, the fabric comprising polyester yarns in an amount greater than about 90% by weight, the first sleeve defining a first seam that extends along a length of the hollow tubular portion of the first sleeve and the second sleeve defining a second seam that extends along a length of the hollow tubular portion of the second sleeve; and
a first seam tape covering the first seam and a second seam tape covering the second seam, each seam tape comprising a fabric layer, an adhesive layer, and optionally a film layer positioned between the fabric layer and the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being bonded to the fabric along the respective seam, the adhesive layer having a thickness of greater than about 3.1 mils and less than about 4.5 mils;
wherein the protective garment when tested according to AAMI protocols qualifies for at least Level 3 protection.
2 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the protective garment maintains Level 3 protection according to AAMI after 60 laundry cycles performed in accordance with Care Code ST.
3 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a basis weight of greater than about 2 osy.
4 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises polyester yarns in an amount of about 100% by weight.
5 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a yarn density in a warp direction of from about 100 yarns per inch to about 230 yarns per inch and in a fill direction of from about 60 yarns per inch to about 120 yarns per inch.
6 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a yarn density in a warp direction of from about 100 yarns per inch to about 200 yarns per inch and in a fill direction of from about 60 yarns per inch to about 110 yarns per inch.
7 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a basis weight of greater than about 2 osy and a yarn density in a warp direction of from about 100 yarns per inch to about 230 yarns per inch and in a fill direction of from about 60 yarns per inch to about 120 yarns per inch.
8 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises yarns having a denier from about 50 to about 200.
9 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises yarns containing from about 40 filaments to about 100 filaments.
10 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the fabric has a basis weight of greater than about 2 osy;
the fabric has a yarn density in a warp direction of from about 100 yarns per inch to about 230 yarns per inch and in a fill direction of from about 60 yarns per inch to about 120 yarns per inch; and
the fabric comprises yarns having a denier from about 50 to about 200.
11 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises anti-static yarns.
12 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises textured yarns.
13 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein each seam tape comprises a film layer.
14 . The protective garment as defined in claim 13 , wherein the film layer of each seam tape comprises an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film.
15 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric layer of each seam tape comprises a woven polyester fabric.
16 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fabric layer of each seam tape comprises a calendared polyester fabric.
17 . The protective garment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the body portion, the first sleeve, and the second sleeve are each made from a single layer of the fabric except for where the first seam tape and the second seam tape are located.
18 . The seam tape as defined in claim 1 , wherein the seam tape has a width of from about 0.75 inches to about 2.5 inches.
19 . A protective garment comprising:
a body portion having at least a front section, the body portion being connected to a first sleeve and to a second and opposite sleeve, each sleeve defining a hollow tubular portion for receiving a corresponding arm of a user, the body portion, the first sleeve, and the second sleeve being made from a fabric, the fabric that comprises the body portion, the first sleeve, and the second sleeve having been treated with a durable water-resistant treatment, the fabric having a basis weight of greater than about 2 osy, the first sleeve defining a first seam that extends along a length of the hollow tubular portion of the first sleeve and the second sleeve defining a second seam that extends along a length of the hollow tubular portion of the second sleeve; and
a first seam tape covering the first seam and a second seam tape covering the second seam, each seam tape comprising a fabric layer, an adhesive layer, and optionally a film layer positioned between the fabric layer and the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being bonded to the fabric along the respective seam, the adhesive layer having a thickness of greater than about 3.1 mils and less than about 4.5 mils;
wherein the fabric has a yarn density in a warp direction of less than about 230 yarns per inch and in a fill direction of less than about 120 yarns per inch;
wherein the protective garment when tested according to AAMI protocols qualifies for at least Level 3 protection.
20 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein the protective garment maintains Level 3 protection according to AAMI after 60 laundry cycles performed in accordance with Care Code ST.
21 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein the fabric comprises polyester yarns in an amount of greater than about 80% by weight.
22 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein each seam tape comprises a film layer, the film layer comprising a polyurethane or an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film.
23 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein the fabric comprises yarns having a denier from about 50 to about 200.
24 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein the fabric comprises yarns containing from about 40 filaments to about 100 filaments.
25 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein:
the fabric comprises yarns containing from about 40 filaments to about 100 filaments;
the fabric has a yarn density in a warp direction of from about 100 yarns per inch to about 200 yarns per inch and in a fill direction of from about 60 yarns per inch to about 110 yarns per inch; and
the fabric comprises yarns having a denier from about 50 to about 200.
26 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein the fabric comprises anti-static yarns.
27 . The protective garment as defined in claim 19 , wherein the fabric comprises textured yarns.