Seam fabrication method and article made by the method
View Patent ↗A method of joining laminate panels includes providing at least two laminate panels and joining together the seam areas of the at least two laminate panels by forming at least one seam. Each laminate panel includes at least one layer of textile material having a first thickness in a non-seam area and a second thickness in a seam area. The second thickness is less than the first thickness. An article of manufacture includes at least two laminate panels joined together at the seam areas of the at least two laminate panels by forming at least one seam. Each laminate panel includes at least one layer of textile material having a first thickness in a non-seam area and a second thickness in a seam area.
1. An article of manufacture comprising:
at least two laminate panels, each laminate panel including at least one layer of textile material having a uniform first thickness in a non-seam area and a uniform second thickness in a seam area where the at least two laminate panels overlap, said uniform second thickness being less than said uniform first thickness, the at least one layer of textile material being continuously woven to have the uniform first thickness in the non-seam area and the uniform second thickness in the seam area; and
at least one seam joining together the seam areas of the at least two laminate panels.
2. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of textile material is knapped to increase a loft of material in the non-seam area.
3. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the uniform first thickness is about 5 mm and the uniform second thickness is about 3 mm.
4. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the uniform second thickness to the uniform first thickness is about 0.6 or more.
5. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the uniform first thickness is at least 1 mm greater than the uniform second thickness.
6. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein a water resistant barrier layer is joined to the at least one layer of textile material of each laminate panel.
7. The article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one seam is a waterproof seam.
8. An article of manufacture comprising:
at least two laminate panels, each laminate panel including at least one layer of textile material having a uniform first thickness in a non-seam area and a uniform second thickness in a seam area where the at least two laminate panels overlap, said uniform second thickness being less than said uniform first thickness, the at least one layer of textile material being continuously knitted to have the uniform first thickness in the non-seam area and the uniform second thickness in the seam area; and
at least one seam joining together the seam areas of the at least two laminate panels.
9. The article of manufacture according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one layer of textile material is continuously knitted to have the uniform first thickness in a first non-seam area, the uniform second thickness in the seam area, and a uniform third thickness in a second non-seam area, the uniform second thickness being less than the uniform third thickness.