Patagonia, Inc.

Randy Harward

A composite seam system including a narrow weld bead joining two panels of fabric and a seam tape applied thereon. The applied seam tape comprises a top layer, a reinforcing layer and an adhesive layer melted through the reinforcing layer and connecting the top layer to the fabric panels over the weld bead. The narrow weld bead and the small seam allowance of the fabric panels it joins allows the seam tape to be secured over the weld bead to the fabric panels while lying in a flat plane. The use of a narrow reinforcing layer of woven polyester, nylon or non-woven ultra-fine fibrous material in the seam tape allows the seam tape to be flexible enough to move with the fabric it joins, reducing the incidence of tape edge abrasion.

Reinforced fabric seam

A fabric joining method and system for attaching a first piece of fabric having synthetic content to a second piece of fabric having synthetic content. The method includes welding the first piece of fabric to the second piece of fabric at a seam and sewing the first piece of fabric to the second piece of fabric using a stitch that crosses the welded seam. An example method includes ultrasonically welding a first piece of fleece fabric to a second piece of fleece fabric followed by stitching along and across the welded seam completely through the fabric layers using a zig-zag stitch. The system includes a first piece of fabric, a second piece of fabric fused to the first piece of fabric at a welded seam, and a thread stitched across the welded seam.

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Ojai, CA, United States of America

Randy Harward