Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-05-15
Ball, Michael W. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C223S030000, C223S031000, C223S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a crease in a cloth and, more particularly, to providing a crease in cloth of a permanent nature such that the crease is capable of withstanding repeated laundering and steam pressing without degradation to the esthetic appearance as part of a garment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While not so limited, the present invention is particularly useful for forming a decorative type crease, such as a military crease, in cloth before the cloth is sewn to form any of various types of clothing/garments. Uniforms worn by military personnel, police, firefighter and other personnel imparting an image of distinctive dress codes are provided with ornate crease lines usually extending vertically along the front and back portions of a shirt with the creases ending short of the shirt yoke and the shirt tails.
In the past, the creases were formed by forming fold lines in a starched laden garment and then steam pressing the garment along each of the fold lines. The forming of creases in this matter required multiple pressing operations, one pressing operation for each crease line. Creases in cloth are also commonly found in trousers, skirts particularly pleated skirts, blouses and dresses. To achieve a more permanent nature of the crease lines, it is known to sew the cloths along fold lines which is very labor intensive requiring skilled seamstress and therefore represents an added element of cost.
It is also known to provide crease lines in cloth of a permanent nature by manually applying a stream of liquid material, such as silicone, to the cloth along a valley formed by a crease line in the cloth. A workman first forms a crease line in the cloth then applies the stream of liquid solvent-based material and repeats this process to achieve a desired number of crease lines. A liquid solvent-based filler material is available with physical properties providing the capability of withstanding temperatures of 400 degrees F. without melting. The required manipulative steps in the manual process of forming crease lines and applying filler material is labor intensive without an effective quality control. A need therefore exists for a method and apparatus to establish creases in cloth with long continued integrity, accuracy and without degradation to the esthetic appearance during the useful life of the apparel.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to crease a displaced part of a cloth while supported in a stable manner along a course and then unfold marginal portions of the cloth while supporting the cloth along the crease line so that the marginal portions expose the crease line while a filler strip is applied along the crease line.
It is a further object of the present invention to crease a first displaced part of cloth while supported in a stable manner along a course followed by displacing and creasing a second and if desired a third displaced part of the cloth and then unfold marginal portions of the cloth adjoining each of the crease lines and then support the cloth along each crease line so that the marginal portions exposed the crease lines while an elongated bead of filler material is applied to each crease line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a method for providing a permanent crease in a cloth, the method including the steps of arranging a select cloth along a course traversing an elongated gap formed by spaced apart supports, forming reversely extending cloth portions by displacing a part of the select cloth through the gap and into an elongated gap between presser members, creasing the reversely extended cloth portions residing in the elongated gap between presser members to form an elongated crease line between the reversely extending cloth portions, unfolding the reversely extending cloth portions to expose the elongated crease line, and adhering a filler to the select cloth along at least a part of the elongated crease line to establish a permanent crease of long continued integrity.
The method of the present invention is further defined by the steps of arranging a select cloth along a course traversing a plurality of spaced apart and elongated gaps between support members, forming first reversely extending cloth portions by displacing a first part of the select cloth through a first gap of the plurality of gaps and into an elongated gap between first presser members, gripping the reversely extended cloth portions residing in the elongated gap between the presser members, forming second reversely extending cloth portions by displacing a second part of the selected cloth through a second gap of the plurality of gaps and into an elongated gap between second presser members, creasing the first and second reversely extending cloth portions residing in the plurality of elongated gaps between each of the first and second presser members to form elongated first and second crease lines, unfolding the first and second reversely extending cloth portions to expose each of the first and second elongated crease lines, and adhering a filler along at least a part of each of the first and second elongated crease lines to the select cloth to establish military creases in the cloth of long continued integrity.
The present invention further provides an apparatus to form a military crease in cloth by the combination of an elongated cloth support having at least one gap for passage of a folded portion of cloth, elongated press bars movable to a spaced apart relation to receive a select portion of cloth passed from the gap in the cloth supports, a press bar actuator connected to the press bars for displacing the press bars into a creasing position to crease a portion of cloth between the press bars, an elongated crease blade reciprocal along a generally parallel path of travel between an inoperative position remote to the elongated cloth support and along a course of travel to displace a portion of cloth from the support to an operative position formed at a site between the press bars to an operative position, a crease support bar for unfolding the reversely extending cloth portion while supporting the cloth along a crease line, a crease support bar actuator for moving the crease support bar between a cloth receiving position between the press bars and a cloth support position for the application of a crease line filler and an applicator for discharging a crease line filler along the crease line while supported by the elongate crease support bar.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4036414 (1977-07-01), Miranda
patent: 4182264 (1980-01-01), Gibson et al.
patent: 5897734 (1999-04-01), Sugihara
Ball Michael W.
Musser Barbara J.
Poff Clifford A.
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