Method of assembling a magnetic system

Abstract

A method including accessing a support strip and placing a plurality of magnetizable backing members along the support strip. The method further includes, after the first placing step, placing a magnet on or adjacent to each backing member such that each magnet is magnetically coupled to an associated backing member to thereby position each magnet on the support strip. The method also includes placing the support strip on or in a garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 accessing a support strip;   placing a plurality of magnetizable backing members along the support strip;   after the first placing step, placing a magnet on or adjacent to each backing member such that each magnet is magnetically coupled to an associated backing member to thereby position each magnet on the support strip; and   placing the support strip on or in a garment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 accessing a supplemental support strip; 
 placing a plurality of magnets or magnetizable members along the supplemental support strip; and 
 placing the supplemental support strip on or in the garment such that the supplemental support strip is configured to form a magnetic closure system with the support strip. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the garment includes a first garment portion and a second garment portion, a releasable fastener configured to releasably couple the first garment portion to the second garment portion, and a covering flap movable between a covering position wherein the covering flap covers the releasable fastener and a retracted position wherein the covering flap does not cover the releasable fastener, and wherein the magnetic closure system is configured to selectively maintain the covering flap in the covering position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the garment is a coat, wherein the releasable fastener is a zipper, and wherein the covering flap is a storm flap. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the garment is a pair of trousers, wherein the releasable fastener is a zipper, and wherein the covering flap is a fly. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the magnets have about the same size and shape in front view as the backing member. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the support strip is made of a water tight, fire resistant textile or fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to the step of placing a magnet on or adjacent to each backing member, securing each backing member to the support strip. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, after the step of placing a magnet on or adjacent to each backing member, folding the support strip about itself to form two plies with the magnets and backing members positioned between the two plies of the support strip. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising, after the folding step, coupling each backing member to the support strip by passing stitching through the support strip. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the stitching extends around at least three sides of each backing member. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the stitching forms a closed perimeter around each backing member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the support strip is a continuous piece of material, and wherein after the folding step the support strip generally surrounds and seals the backing members and magnets. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, before placing the support strip on or in the garment, positioning the support strip in a tube, and wherein the step of placing the support strip on or in the garment includes placing the tube on or in the garment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein tube includes two outer plies, wherein the support strip is received between the two outer plies of the tube, and wherein the tube is removably inserted into the garment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the tube includes an inner cushioning layer positioned between the two outer plies of the tube. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one of: the outer plies of the tube are made of different material; or one outer ply of the tube is thinner than the other ply of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each backing member is not a permanent magnet, wherein each backing member has a thickness that is less than one half of the thickness of the associated magnet, wherein each magnet is generally flat and has a thickness less than one quarter of a longest dimension of the magnet, and wherein each magnet has a pull force of between about 10 lbs., and about 20 lbs. at a distance of 0 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the garment is a firefighter garment including an outer shell, a thermal liner having a TPP of at least about thirty and configured to be positioned between the outer shell and a wearer of the garment, and a moisture barrier configured to permit moisture vapor to pass therethrough but block liquids from passing therethrough, wherein the moisture barrier is configured to be positioned between the outer shell and a wearer of the garment. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a garment comprising:
 accessing an elongated support strip;   placing a plurality of magnetizable backing members along a length of the support strip;   after the first placing step, placing a magnet on or adjacent to each backing member such that each magnet is magnetically coupled to an associated backing member to thereby position each magnet on the support strip;   accessing a garment including a first garment portion and a second garment portion, a releasable fastener configured to releasably couple the first garment portion to the second garment portion, and a covering flap movable between a covering position wherein the covering flap covers the releasable fastener and a retracted position wherein the covering flap does not cover the releasable fastener; and   placing the support strip on or in a garment to form part of a magnetic closure system is configured to selectively maintain the covering flap in the covering position.