Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to closures of textile products, such as
garment, e.g. jackets, in particular protective garment. The invention further relates
to the use of the closures in garments, particularly protective garment, such as jackets
and double jacket systems. The invention relates in particular to suits and jackets
for firemen, soldiers, policemen and persons working in potentially hazardous environments
such as on chemical and petrochemical plants.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Closures for textile products are well known. Typically zippers, buttons or hook-and-loop
systems are used to close textile products like garments and alike.
[0003] For some applications, the closure of a textile product is more critical and has
more requirements than couple two textile surfaces one to the other. As a mere example,
for firemen jackets, the closure of the jacket at the front side of the jacket has
a.o. to be reliable, watertight and fire resistant. A simple zipper system is in this
case probably not sufficient. A strip of textile is used to cover the zipper, used
to couple the left and right front part of the jacket one to the other. The strip
of textile, once provided in front of the zipper system, may be held in place by e.g.
a hook-and-loop system, better known as a Velcro system. Closing and keep the closure
closed is of importance to ensure the jacket fulfils its function of protective wear
also along the zipper part. If for whatever reason the closure is not correctly closed
or kept close, the fireman's safety is put in danger.
[0004] For other uses, e.g. for jackets of soldiers and policemen, in particularly for soldiers
of special forces, it might be deadly important that a textile closure, e.g. a closure
of a pocket, opens and closes without any sound. A sound made may give away information
on their presence. However, in order to keep the stored equipment in e.g. a pocket
of such jacket or battle dress, the pocket needs to be kept close with certainty at
all times.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a textile closure which gives a.o. certainty as to
its closed position at all times, and/or which is silent to open and/or close. The
closure is to guarantee a closed position and/or should return to a closed position
without intervention of a person.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] It is the object of the present invention to provide a closure for a textile product
which overcomes one or more drawbacks of the prior art. According to a first aspect
of the invention, a closure of a textile product is provided. The textile product
comprises a first and a second textile surface, both the first and the second textile
surface having a first side facing the same direction. The second textile surface
has an edge. A first textile strip is coupled to the first side of the first textile
surface and extends up to or beyond the edge of the second textile surface over the
first side of the second textile surface. The first textile strip is provided with
at least one resilient means holding the first textile strip in front of, possibly
against the first side of the second textile surface.
[0007] Preferably, the at least one resilient means presses the first textile strip to the
first side of the second textile surface. It means that, when the first textile strip
contacts the first side of the second textile surface, the resilient means is not
in a stable position and still exercises a force to the first side of the second textile
surface.
[0008] The first side may typically be an outer side of a textile product in use, such as
the outer side of a garment or a functional textile product, e.g. a door or valve
from textile material, e.g. in a tent or shelter surface or alike. The textile surfaces
both have also a second side, being typically the inner side of the textile product
in use.
[0009] According to some embodiments, the first textile surface may have an edge, the edges
of the first and second textile surface being adjacent one to the other and the first
textile strip extending beyond the edge of the first textile surface. This may e.g.
be the case for closures of jackets, the closure being the front closure between the
left and right front part of the jacket. The closure according to the invention may
as well be the closure of a pocket of a garment, the first surface being the surface
of the garment, the second surface being the textile sheet from which the pocket,
such as a patch pocket, is made.
[0010] Between the two edges, a space may be provided which space needs to be bridged by
the textile strips. The two edges of the first and second textile surface may be mutually
parallel, even being equidistant one to the other along part or the whole of the length
of the edges.
[0011] The closure according to the invention has the advantage that it may close very silently
and smoothly. The closure will be kept closed and will not open except when an external
force is applied to the resilient means in order to compensate the resiliency. When
this external force is taken away, the closure may close by itself again. As such
the closure according to the invention may provide certainty as to the status of the
closure at any point in time.
[0012] The closure further may comprise a second textile strip coupled to the first side
of the second textile surface and extending under the first textile strip beyond the
edge of the second and first textile surface. The second textile strip may extend
under or over the first side of the first textile surface.
[0013] Thus, according to some embodiments, the closure further may comprise a second textile
strip coupled to the first side of the second textile surface and extending under
the first textile strip beyond the edge of the first textile surface over the first
side of the first textile surface.
[0014] The first and second textile surface may be of identical textile material as the
first textile surface. The first and second textile strips may be of identical textile
material, optionally also identical to the textile material of the first and second
textile surface. The first and second textile surface may both be part of one textile
material. Possibly, the textile material of the first and second textile surface is
layered, and comprises two or more layers of textile material.
[0015] According to some embodiments, the at least one resilient means may comprise a spring,
preferably a torsion spring.
[0016] The use of a spring, in particular a torsion spring or bistable spring, is preferred
as it is fairly easy to install in the textile product and is reliable as to the force
it provides on the first side of the second textile surface by the first textile strip.
[0017] According to some embodiments, the at least one resilient means may comprise a bistable
spring.
[0018] This bistable spring may be a bistable hinge and may comprise a metal or polymer
ribbon. This ribbon may be a bistable spring band or bistable spring blade. The bistable
spring may, at its both sides, be provided with a polymer or metal plate, enlarging
the dimension of the bistable spring.
[0019] The use of bistable springs has the advantage that the first textile strip can be
pressed against the first side of the second textile surface in a first of its two
stable positions, preferably its stable position, thereby possibly closing a gap defined
by the edge of the second textile surface. In its second position, possibly being
its metastable position, the first textile strip is not pressed against the first
side of the second textile surface but can leave the edge of the second textile surface
accessible. Changing the bistable spring from the first to the second position can
be done easily by moving the bistable spring from one of the two positions towards
the second of its two positions. Once the bistable spring, being in a given open or
closed position, is moved sufficiently far, i.e. one has exercised a sufficiently
large amount of work to the bistable spring, the bistable spring will further change
to the other position by itself. If no such amount of work is applied, the bistable
spring will return to its staring position if the force is taken away. As such, these
embodiments of the invention provide closures which have a certitude to be in either
the open or closed position.
[0020] Alternatively, the resilient means may be an elastomeric volume, like an elastomeric
rod or strip of material. The resilient means may as well be a shape memory material,
like a shape memory wire, cord, rod or strip of material. Such shape memory material
may be metal or polymer like elastomeric polymers. Alternatively the resilient means
may comprise naturel fibres or products such as bamboo fibres or strips. All such
means open and close with relatively little to no noise, and with certainty as to
the position it is in, i.e. opened of closed.
[0021] Further alternatives are resilient means comprising composite materials with a bended
shape and being provided with a given resiliency. Still another alternative is the
use of an inflatable tube, which receivers to a given shape during inflation, thereby
bringing, and holding the first textile strip in front of the first side of the second
textile surface, even exercising a force to the first side of the second textile surface
once inflated. Also the use of an inflated tube is an alternative for the resilient
means.
[0022] The number and dimension of the resilient means depends largely on the properties,
like the weight, of the first textile strip which is to be brought in front of the
second textile. The distance between adjacent resilient means may e.g. be in the range
of 10 to 60 cm centre-to-centre, such as every 15 or 35 cm centre-to-centre.
[0023] A force is exercised by the resilient means when brought in its position in front
of the first side of the second textile surface.
[0024] As an example, a bistable spring being a bistable strip made from bistable metal
or polymer plate is used. The length of the strip may be at least,1.5 to 3 times of
the width of the part of the first textile strip which is to be brought in front of
the second textile.
[0025] According to some embodiments, the at least one resilient means may be covered partially
or completely by means of a textile patch.
[0026] The at least one resilient means, e.g. a strip of polymer or metal, or the bistable
hinge or bistable spring band, may be located in a pocket. The pocket may comprise
a textile bag, or may comprise the textile patch, a part of the first textile surface
and a part of the first textile strip. The provision of covering the resilient means
has the advantage that the resilient means can be sheltered from excessive forces
or circumstances, like heat, humidity, light and alike.
[0027] According to some embodiments, the at least one resilient means may be coupled to
the first textile surface.
[0028] This coupling can be done by sewing the resilient means onto the first textile surface.
Optionally, the resilient means is provided with openings through which the sewing
thread can pass through spring. According to some alternatives, if the resilient means
is covered with a textile patch or is provided in a pocket, the textile patch or pocket
may be provided such the resilient means is kept in place by this patch or pocket.
[0029] According to some embodiments, the closure may comprise a plurality of resilient
means, the resilient means being spaced apart along the length of the edge of the
second textile surface.
[0030] As such, larger edges along one or two textile surfaces may be closed by the closure.
[0031] Though basically any kind of textile material can be uses to provide the first and/or
second textile surface, preferably textile material with a more technical character
is used. Textile material which typically has a higher surface weight, and/or which
is a layered structure of more than one layer of the sample of different textile sheets
can be used.
[0032] Textile sheets or textile material with a surface weight in the range of 150 to 800
g/m
2 may be used. The thickness of the textile sheets or textile material may be in the
range of 0.1 to 3 mm.
[0033] The textile material may comprise at least one to four textile sheets or layers,
the first, outer layer being the functional layer, e.g. having fire resistant properties,
the second layer being a filtering membrane, such as a membrane comprising PTFE fibres,
filtering chemically harmful particles from e.g. smoke, and an inner textile layer,
a third layer being a non-woven out of aramid fibres, and a fourth layer being e.g.
a lining material. This is in particularly the case for firemen's garments.
[0034] More particular, the first outer layer may be a fabric of 220 g/m
2 made of meta-aramid fibres and para-aramid fibres
[0035] The intermediate, second layer may be a filtering material comprising PTFE fibres,
such as a Gore-Tex layer, with high moisture/vapour breathable options
[0036] A third layer may be a non-woven of aramid fibres
[0037] The inner layer, functioning as liner, may be a 40-100 g/m
2 cotton fabric , aramid/viscose, aramid .
[0038] The closure may be used as closure of garment or clothing pieces, such as jackets,
e.g. protective garments, safety jackets, fireman jackets, police jackets, bullet
proof jackets, or even ski jackets and alike. Alternative uses are the use of the
closure for garment for animals, e.g. safety garment for dogs or horses. Still alternative
uses are closures for pockets in the above-mentioned garment, closure of bags, backpacks
tents, shelters, etc... Particular uses are the use of the textile product for firemen
or fire-fighter suits like fire-fighter jackets, pants, overalls, coveralls, and alike,
and soldiers and/or policemen or soldiers suits like battle dress or jackets, pants,
overalls, coveralls, and alike.
[0039] The garments and textile products thus may be used by firemen, safety workers, policemen,
soldiers, suits in petrochemical and chemical installations and many more.
[0040] According to some embodiments, the textile product may be a jacket, the first and
second textile surface being the jacket front parts.
[0041] According to some embodiments, the first textile surface may have an edge, the edges
of the first and second textile surface being adjacent one to the other, the edge
of the first textile surface has a first coupling means to couple the edge of the
first textile surface to an underlying surface, the edge of the second textile surface
has a second coupling means to couple the edge of the second textile surface to the
underlying surface. The closure may cover the coupling means.
[0042] The underlying surface may be the textile surface of an inner jacket of a double
jacket system, such as the two front parts of the inner jacket. The first and second
textile surfaces may be the two front parts of the outer jacket. The two front parts
of the inner jacket can be closed by means of a third coupling means.
[0043] The first, second and third coupling means may be based upon a zipper or hook-and-loop
system.
[0044] According to a second aspect of the invention, the closure according to the first
aspect of the invention is used in protective garment. In particular, the closure
is used in firemen suits such as firemen jackets, such as the closure if the front
parts of the jacket, or in soldiers battle dresses, like soldier's battle dress or
jackets, such as closures of patch pockets on such battle suits.
[0045] According to a third aspect of the invention, a double jacket system is provided.
The system comprises an outer jacket and an inner jacket, the inner jacket and outer
jacket each comprising a closure at the front side of the jacket system, the outer
jacket having a closure, such as a closure between the left and right front of the
outer jacket, this closure being according to the first aspect of the invention.
[0046] The inner jacket may have a closure based upon a zipper or hook-and-loop system.
[0047] According to some embodiments, the closure of the outer jacket may cover the closure
of the inner jacket.
[0048] According to some embodiments, the edge of the first textile surface of the outer
jacket may be fastened to the inner jacket along the closure of the inner jacket with
a first fastening means, the edge of the second textile surface of the outer jacket
is fastened to the inner jacket along the closure of the inner jacket with a second
fastening means.
[0049] According to some embodiments, the part of the first fastening means coupled to the
first textile surface may be incompatible with the part of the second fastening means
coupled to the second textile surface.
[0050] The first and second fastening means may be e.g. a hook-and-loop fastening system
or may be a zipper. The part of the first and second fastening means coupled to the
outer jacket textile surfaces may each time be the hook or the loop side of the hook
and loop fastening means.
[0051] In case of zippers being used for the fastening means, the part of the first and
second fastening means coupled to the outer jacket textile surfaces may each time
be either the male or the female side of the zipper.
[0052] If the inner jackets closure is a zipper as well, the zipper of the inner jacket
may close from the bottom of the jacket system upwards, while the zippers of the first
and second fastening means coupled to the outer jacket close from the top of the jacket
system downwards. Alternatively, if the inner jackets closure is a zipper as well,
the zipper of the inner jacket may close from the top of the jacket system downwards,
while the zippers of the first and second fastening means coupled to the outer jacket
close from the bottom of the jacket system upwards.
[0053] The double jacket system may be a protective jacket system to protect staff from
different dangers or risks. It may e.g. be a protective jacket system for firemen.
[0054] As an example, the inner jacket may provide the wearer sufficient protection to a
first type of danger or risk, e.g. firemen clothing for technical rescue or wildland
firefighting. The inner jacket's textile surface fulfils e.g. the standard EN 16689
, EN15384. The inner jacket can be worn as such if the intervention will subject the
wearer to only these kinds of risks or danger. The inner jacket can be a layered jacket
comprising an outer layer, one or more intermediate layers and an inner layer or lining.
The outer layer may be meta-aramid/viscose fabric, the intermediate layers may comprise
aramid, viscose, modacrylic or cotton fibers
[0055] The outer jacket's textile surface may be fit to protect the wearer to a second kind
of danger or risks; the outer jacket, when worn together with the inner jacker underneath,
fulfils e.g. the standard EN 469 or being resistant to high risk of flames and heat
and chemical penetration. The outer jacket is a layered jacket comprising an outer
layer, one or more intermediate layers and an inner layer or lining. The outer layer
may be a 100% meta-aramid fabric, the intermediate layers may comprise a PTFE membrane
and aramid non-woven and a aramid/viscose inner liner fabric.
[0056] The outer jacket can be worn over the inner jacket if the intervention will subject
the wearer to these second kinds of risks or danger. The specific closure according
to the first aspect of the invention provided to the outer jacket ma close the outer
jacket but will feel inappropriate when the outer jacket is worn alone, i.e. without
the underlying inner jacket. As such the wearer is reminded to the fact that (s)he
is to wear both jackers in proper order to have sufficient protection for his or her
intervention.
[0057] The closure of the outer jacket, when worn over the inner jacket, will function appropriately
and gives a sufficient protection to the danger and risk it is intended for.
[0058] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a double jacket system according to
the third aspect of the invention is used as a protective jacket system.
[0059] The closure may be used as closure of jackets, e.g. protective and/or safety jackets,
fireman jackets, soldiers battle jacket or dress, police jackets, bullet proof jackets,
or even ski jackets and alike. Particular uses are the use of the double jackets for
firemen or fire-fighter, soldiers and/or policemen and staff members working in chemical
or petrochemical plants in the chemical or petrochemical industry.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0060]
Fig. 1 shows schematically a fireman's jacket comprising a closure according to the
invention.
Fig. 2 shows schematically a cross section of the closure of figure 1.
Fig. 3 shows schematically a part of a battledress comprising a closure according
to the invention.
Fig. 4 shows schematically a cross section of the closure of figure 3.
Fig. 5 shows schematically a double jacket system comprising a closure according to
the invention.
Fig. 6 shows schematically a cross section of the closure of figure 5.
[0061] In the figures, the same reference number refers to the same or to a similar feature.
Detailed Description of Embodiment(s)
[0062] Figure 1 shows a closure of a textile product being the closure of two fronts of
a jacket. The jacket may be a fireman's jacket 1. A cross section according to plane
AA' of this closure is shown in figure 2.
[0063] The textile product comprises a first 10 and a second 20 textile surface, in this
embodiment the left and right front of the jacket 1. The first surface 10 has a first
side 11 and the second textile surface having a first side 21, both facing the same
direction. These first sides are the outer sides of the jacket 1. The second textile
surface 20 has an edge 22. A first textile strip 30 is coupled to the first side 11
of the first textile surface 10 and extends beyond the edge 22 of the second textile
surface 20 over the first side 21 of the second textile surface 20. The first textile
strip 30 is provided with resilient means 31, 32 and 33, spaced at about 40cm centre-to-centre,
and holding the first textile strip 30 in front of, even against the first side 21
of the second textile surface 20.
[0064] The first textile surface 10 has an edge 12, the edges 12 and 22 of the first and
second textile surface are adjacent one to the other. The first textile strip 30 extending
beyond the edge 12 of the first textile surface 10.
[0065] The flexible textile strip 30 comprises resilient means 31, 32 and 33, here bistable
metal springs, in the form of blades. One outer edge 34 of the bistable metal strip
is contacting the zone of the textile strip 30 where it is covering the first textile
surface 10. The bistable metal strip is coupled to the first textile surface and optionally
to the textile strip 30 by sewing through small apertures which receive the sewing
yarn 41. The other edge 35 of the bistable metal spring is located in the zone of
the textile strip 30 where it is covering the second textile surface 20; the bistable
metal strip is not coupled to the textile strip 30 here.
[0066] The bistable metal strip, when plied such that the bistable metal strip is not substantially
planar, but has an angled shape, provides an open closure. The bistable metal strip
is in a first metastable position. When the outer end 35 of the bistable metal strip
is pushed towards the second textile surface, the bistable metal strip springs in
the other, stable position, the closure being closed.
[0067] An additional zipper 40 may be used to couple the two textile surfaces, in particular
if this jacket is a single jacket.
[0068] The textile surfaces are e.g. a woven fabric composed of meta-aramid/para-aramid/anti-static
fiber 70/28/2% with a specific weight of 225 g/m
2.
[0069] Figure 3 shows a closure of a textile product being the closure of a pocket 140 of
a soldier's battle dress 2. A cross section according to plane BB' of this closure
is shown in figure 4.
[0070] The textile product comprises a first 110 and a second 120 textile surface. The first
textile surface 110 is a front part of the battle dress. The second textile surface
120 is the patch of a patch pocket 140 on this front part of the battle dress. The
first surface 110 has a first side 111 and the second textile surface having a first
side 121, both facing the same direction. The second textile surface 120 has an edge
122. A first textile strip 130 is coupled to the first side 111 of the first textile
surface 110 and extending beyond the edge 122 of the second textile surface 121 of
the second textile surface 120. The first textile strip 130 is provided with two resilient
means 132 and 133 holding the first textile strip 130 in front of, even against the
first side 121 of the second textile surface 120.
[0071] The resilient means 132 and 133 are bistable metal springs, in the form of blades.
One outer edge 134 of the bistable metal strip is contacting the zone of the textile
strip 130 where it is covering the first textile surface 110. The bistable metal strip
is coupled to the first textile surface 110 and optionally to the textile strip 130
by sewing through small apertures which receive the sewing yarn at the first end 134.
The other edge 135 of the bistable metal spring is located in the zone of the textile
strip 130 where it is covering the second textile surface 120; the bistable metal
strip is not but may be coupled here to the textile strip 130.
[0072] The bistable metal strip, when plied such that the bistable metal strip is not substantially
planar, but has an inclined shape, provides an open closure and an open pocket 140.
The bistable metal strip is in a first metastable position. When the outer end 135
of the bistable metal strip is pushed towards the second textile surface 120, the
bistable metal strip springs its the other, stable position, the pocket 140 being
closed. This closing goes with a minimum level of noise, if any. The strength of the
resilient means 132 and 133 cause the pocket 140 to be kept firmly closed. To open,
the user is to lift the strip 130 and thereby ply the bistable metal strips 132 and
133. Also this goes with making very little to no noise.
[0073] The textile surfaces are typically polyester/cotton or polyamide cotton fabrics with
a specific weight of 180 to 220 g/m
2.
[0074] A double jacket system 3 of a fireman's outfit is shown in figure 5. A cross section
according to the plane CC' of the closure system of the inner and outer jacket is
shown in figure 6.
[0075] The double jacket system 3 comprises an outer jacket 310, and an inner jacket 320.
The two front parts 321 and 322 of the inner jacket 320, when worn alone, is closed
by a closure being nothing more but a zipper 330.
[0076] The outer jacket 310 has a closure according to the invention. The two front parts
311 and 312 of the outer jacket 310 are adjacent one to the other but spaced apart.
When worn in combination with the inner jacket 320, the one front part 311 is coupled
to the first front part 321 of the inner jacket 320 by means of a zipper 331. The
other front part 312 is coupled to the second front part 322 of the inner jacket 320
by means of a zipper 332. The orientation of the zippers 331 and 332 are chosen such
that the zipper part coupled to the first part of the outer jacket does not match
with the zipper part coupled to the second part of the outer jacket. As an example,
both parts of the zippers are the male part of the zippers, or both are the female
part of the zippers. As such, a person wearing the outer jacket only, cannot close
the zipper parts present on the two front parts of the outer jacket. As such, mistakes
on wearing the outer jacket only are prevented. Further, the zippers 331 and 332 close
in a given direction, as shown from the upper side downwards, while the zipper 330
of the inner jacket closes in the opposite direction, e.g. from the lower side upwards.
As such, mistakes in making incorrect combinations of two parts of a zipper system
are prevented.
[0077] The closure of the outer jacket 310 comprises a first textile strip 340 and a second
textile strip 350. The first textile strip 340 is coupled to the first, outer side
315 of the first textile surface 313 from the first front part 311. It extends beyond
the edge 317 of this first textile surface 313, over the zipper part of the inner
jacket 320 and up to, even slightly beyond the edge 327 of the outer side 325 of the
first textile surface 323 from the second front part 312. A second textile strip 350
is coupled to the outer side 325 of the second textile surface 323 from the first
front part 312. It extends beyond the edge 327 of this second textile surface 323,
over the zipper part 330 of the inner jacket 320 and up to, even slightly beyond the
edge 317 of the outer side 315 of the first textile surface 313 from the first front
part 311. The second textile strip 350 is positioned under the first textile strip
340. The first textile strip 340 is provided with resilient means 351 and holding
the first textile strip 340 in front of, even against the first side 325 of the second
textile surface 323.
[0078] The resilient means is again a bistable polymer strip. It is enveloped by the textile
material from which the first textile strip 340 is made. As shown in figure 6, the
bistable polymer strip is at both sides provided with two polymer blades 341 and 342,
which are hinged by a bistable polymer hinge or spring 343. The blade 342 is sewn
to the first textile surface 313. The polymer blades are made from thermoplastic elastomers
such as TPU . The bistable polymer hinge is provided from a TPU with a higher flexibility
than the TPU used for the bistable polymer
[0079] Along the closure of the outer jacket, several such resilient means are provided.
As an example, every 40 cm, a resilient means in provided along the edge 317.
[0080] The inner jacket is provided from meta-aramid/modacrylic/viscose/para-aramid/Polyamide
HT/anti-static fibre 36/26/18/12/7/1% with a specific weight of 230 g/m
2
[0081] The outer jacket is provided from . a woven fabric composed of meta-aramid/para-aramid/anti-static
fiber 70/28/2% with a specific weight of 225 g/m
2.
[0082] The first and second textile strip are provided from the same material as used in
the outer jacket.
[0083] As alternative embodiments, in all the above embodiments, the bistable metal strip
may be replaced by bistable polymer strip, an elastomeric volume, like an elastomeric
rod or strip of material, a shape memory material, like a shape memory wire, cord,
rod or strip of material, the shape memory material being made from metal or polymer
like elastomeric polymers.
[0084] Although the present invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments,
it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited
to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention
may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the
scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by
the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended
to be embraced therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications,
variations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic underlying principles
and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. It will furthermore
be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words "comprising"
or "comprise" do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words "a" or "an" do
not exclude a plurality, and that a single element, such as a computer system, a processor,
or another integrated unit may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the
claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the respective
claims concerned. The terms "first", "second", third", "a", "b", "c", and the like,
when used in the description or in the claims are introduced to distinguish between
similar elements or steps and are not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological
order. Similarly, the terms "top", "bottom", "over", "under", and the like are introduced
for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to
be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances
and embodiments of the invention are capable of operating according to the present
invention in other sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described
or illustrated above.
1. A closure of a textile product, the textile product comprising a first and a second
textile surface, both said first and said second textile surface having a first side
facing the same direction, said second textile surface having an edge, a first textile
strip being coupled to the first side of the first textile surface and extending up
to or beyond the edge of the second textile surface over the first side of the second
textile surface, characterised in that said first textile strip is provided with at least one resilient means, holding said
first textile strip in front of the first side of said second textile surface.
2. A closure of a textile product according to claim 1, wherein said first textile surface
has an edge, the edges of said first and second textile surface being adjacent one
to the other and said first textile strip extending beyond the edge of the first textile
surface.
3. A closure of a textile product according to claim 2, the closure further comprising
a second textile strip coupled to the first side of the second textile surface and
extending under the first textile strip beyond the edge of the first textile surface
over the first side of the first textile surface.
4. A closure of a textile product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said at least one resilient means comprises a spring, preferably a torsion spring.
5. A closure of a textile product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said at least one resilient means comprises a bistable spring.
6. A closure of a textile product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said at least one resilient means is covered by means of a textile patch.
7. A closure of a textile product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said at least one resilient means is coupled to the first textile surface.
8. A closure of a textile product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said closure comprises a plurality of resilient means, the resilient means being spaced
apart along the length of the edge of said second textile surface.
9. A closure of a textile product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said textile product is a jacket, the first and second textile surface being the jacket
front parts.
10. A closure of a textile product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
said first textile surface has an edge, the edges of said first and second textile
surface being adjacent one to the other, the edge of the first textile surface has
a first coupling means to couple the edge of said first textile surface to an underlying
surface, the edge of the second textile surface has a second coupling means to couple
the edge of said second textile surface to said underlying surface.
11. The use of a closure according to any one of the preceding claims, in protective garment.
12. A double jacket system, comprising an outer jacket and an inner jacket, the inner
jacket and outer jacket each comprising a closure at the front side of the jacket
system, the outer jacket having a closure according to any one of the clams 1 to 10.
13. A double jacket system according to claim 12, wherein the closure of the outer jacket
covers the closure of the inner jacket.
14. A double jacket system according to any one of the claims 12 to 13, wherein the edge
of the first textile surface of the outer jacket is fastened to the inner jacket along
the closure of the inner jacket with a first fastening means, the edge of the second
textile surface of the outer jacket is fastened to the inner jacket along the closure
of the inner jacket with a second fastening means.
15. A double jacket system according to claim 14, wherein the part of the first fastening
means coupled to the first textile surface is incompatible with the part of the second
fastening means coupled to the second textile surface.
16. The use of a double jacket system according to any one of the claims 12 to 15, as
a protective jacket system.