An attachment for a sewing machine to provide simultaneous sewing and sealing of a seam comprises a reel for dispensing a strip of adhesive thermoplastic polymer between fabric members to be sewn. A plurality of heated driven rollers opposed to heated idler rollers having a continuous belt thereover collectively exert heat and pressure on the seam, melting the polymer strip so as to seal the seam. Thread having been treated with adhesive thermoplastic polymer may be employed to seal the punctures in the fabric made by the sewing machine's needle. The driven rollers are driven in synchronization with the operation of the sewing machine, and are engaged with and withdrawn from the seam responsive to operator command.

The product manufactured according to the method is waterproof and provided with a cavity, such as a glove, shoe, or a backpack. Initially, a structure is made in the shape of the product by stitching portions of a laminated material attached together by corresponding seams. The stitched structure is then turned inside out and a thermally-curable silicone compound material, in uncured liquid state, is applied on the seams. The structure with applications is then simultaneously subjected to heating with a curing temperature of the material, and to a vacuum operation with pumping means that suck in air from outside the structure with applications into the structure and extract it outside. The invention also relates to a system for manufacturing according to the method.

The product manufactured according to the method is waterproof and provided with a cavity, such as a glove, shoe, or a backpack. Initially, a structure is made in the shape of the product by stitching portions of a laminated material attached together by corresponding seams. The stitched structure is then turned inside out and a thermally-curable silicone compound material, in uncured liquid state, is applied on the seams. The structure with applications is then simultaneously subjected to heating with a curing temperature of the material, and to a vacuum operation with pumping means that suck in air from outside the structure with applications into the structure and extract it outside. The invention also relates to a system for manufacturing according to the method.

A method for seaming cloths of protective clothing includes the steps of: preparing plural cloths for forming protective clothing; having the cloths to form two connecting areas, and then adhering the two connecting areas to form a joint band; utilizing a first auxiliary fixture to fold the joint band to form a folded joint band; utilizing a second auxiliary fixture to fold two lateral sides of a water-resistant cloth into two folded edge areas, and having the two folded edge areas to be adhered respectively onto the folded joint band, such that the water-resistant cloth wraps the folded joint band; and, applying a sewing machine needle to have a water-repellent thread to penetrate repeatedly the two folded edge areas and the folded joint band along a sewing path, so that the water-resistant cloth is fixed to the folded joint band. In addition, another method for seaming cloths is provided.

A method for seaming cloths of protective clothing includes the steps of: preparing plural cloths for forming protective clothing; having the cloths to form two connecting areas, and then adhering the two connecting areas to form a joint band; utilizing a first auxiliary fixture to fold the joint band to form a folded joint band; utilizing a second auxiliary fixture to fold two lateral sides of a water-resistant cloth into two folded edge areas, and having the two folded edge areas to be adhered respectively onto the folded joint band, such that the water-resistant cloth wraps the folded joint band; and, applying a sewing machine needle to have a water-repellent thread to penetrate repeatedly the two folded edge areas and the folded joint band along a sewing path, so that the water-resistant cloth is fixed to the folded joint band. In addition, another method for seaming cloths is provided.

A stitched fabric including a retroreflective core and a yarn stitched through and forming stitch holes in the retroreflective core, where the yarn extends over at least a majority of a width and a length of the stitched fabric but still permits a portion of the retroreflective core to be visible. In some cases, the yarn and the retroreflective core are free from contact by another layer on either side of the retroreflective core. In some cases, a barrier layer is disposed over at least one side of the retroreflective core and a melted portion of the barrier layer fills a portion of the stitch holes.

An attachment (24) for a sewing machine (10) to provide simultaneous sewing and sealing of a seam comprises a reel (23) for dispensing a strip of adhesive thermoplastic polymer (25) between fabric members (7,9) to be sewn. A plurality of heated driven rollers (40, 42, 44) opposed to heated idler rollers (50) having a continuous belt (52) thereover collectively exert heat and pressure on the seam, melting the polymer strip (25) so as to seal the seam. Thread (17) having been treated with adhesive thermoplastic polymer may be employed to seal the punctures in the fabric made by the sewing machine's needle (19). The driven rollers are driven in synchronization with the operation of the sewing machine and are engaged with and withdrawn from the seam responsive to operator command.

An attachment (24) for a sewing machine (10) to provide simultaneous sewing and sealing of a seam comprises a reel (23) for dispensing a strip of adhesive thermoplastic polymer (25) between fabric members (7,9) to be sewn. A plurality of heated driven rollers (40, 42, 44) opposed to heated idler rollers (50) having a continuous belt (52) thereover collectively exert heat and pressure on the seam, melting the polymer strip (25) so as to seal the seam. Thread (17) having been treated with adhesive thermoplastic polymer may be employed to seal the punctures in the fabric made by the sewing machine's needle (19). The driven rollers are driven in synchronization with the operation of the sewing machine and are engaged with and withdrawn from the seam responsive to operator command.

A plastic woven fabric sewing machine includes a stitching device on a tabletop of a worktable in which two overlapped fabrics are placed on the tabletop to be stitched, a tip of a needle portion of a stitching needle cylinder penetrates through the two fabrics to enter a thread knot shaping recess, a plastic material in a chamber is injected into the thread knot shaping recess from a needle hole, after the injected plastic material is cooled, it forms a thread knot to buckle the two fabrics, the tip of the needle portion is retracted from the two fabrics to generate a short stitching thread section, the tip of the needle portion is displaced on the two fabrics to complete one stitch of the two fabrics, the two fabrics are stitched together through continuous multiple stitches, and the stitches each have the thread knot.

A stitched fabric including a retroreflective core and a yarn stitched through and forming stitch holes in the retroreflective core, where the yarn extends over at least a majority of a width and a length of the stitched fabric but still permits a portion of the retroreflective core to be visible. In some cases, the yarn and the retroreflective core are free from contact by another layer on either side of the retroreflective core. In some cases, a barrier layer is disposed over at least one side of the retroreflective core and a melted portion of the barrier layer fills a portion of the stitch holes.