Apparel – Guard or protector – Body cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-08-14
Nerbun, Peter (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Body cover
C002S069000, C361S220000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272694
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates in general to garments that discharge static electricity and in particular to an apparatus and method for enhancing the interfaces at the fasteners and seams of electrostatic discharge garments.
2. Background Art
Garments for discharging static electricity are well known in the art. These garments usually are worn by personnel involved in manufacturing electrically sensitive products. The garments are typically formed from a material having a grid of electrically conductive fibers or ribbons. The fibers are very small so as to allow the electrostatic discharge (ESD) garment to retain the flexibility of garments formed from conventional fabrics. Unfortunately, the frail fibers are easily broken after being washed just a few times, thereby quickly rendering the garment unreliable. This makes the garments more expensive on a cost per use basis. Studies have shown that most fiber breakages occur at the seams of the garments and at the fastener interfaces. Thus, a more reliable ESD garment with durable fiber joints is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electrostatic discharge garment is formed from material having a grid of conductors for conducting static electricity. The conductors are overlapped at the seams of the garment and interconnected with conductive flat ribbons that extend throughout the garment. The garment also has external grounding fasteners which are joined to the grid and ribbons.
A hole is formed in the garment at the site of each fastener. Each hole extends through the fabric, grid, and ribbons. An epoxy applicator injects a small amount of conductive epoxy adjacent to the hole and saturates the various elements. The fastener is then installed while the epoxy is still wet. After the epoxy cures, a flexible but resilient joint is formed between it, the fastener, the grid, and the ribbon.
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patent: 5736469 (1998-04-01), Bhattacharjee et al.
patent: 6079343 (2000-06-01), Wong
Knoth Gary W.
Prime R. Bruce
Weaver Ron L.
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Martin Robert B.
Nerbun Peter
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