Method of forming cloth into three-dimensional shapes and the articles produced by that method
First Claim
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1. A method of forming cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of:
- (a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished cloth;
(b) placing said preformed shell over an expandable mold having a contour corresponding to the contour of said predetermined three-dimensional shape;
(c) expanding said mold sufficient to place the preformed cloth shell in tension;
(d) treating the cloth shell while on said expanded mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold;
(e) retracting said mold; and
(f) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
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Abstract
A novel process is disclosed in which garments and other cloth items are formed into their predetermined three dimensional shapes. Unfinished cloth is used to construct a shell which is then completely finished while maintained in the shape of the final product on a mold. The invention is also directed to the products obtained from the novel process and to the one-piece pattern used in the manufacture of pant garments in accord with the process of the present invention.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of forming cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of:
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(a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over an expandable mold having a contour corresponding to the contour of said predetermined three-dimensional shape; (c) expanding said mold sufficient to place the preformed cloth shell in tension; (d) treating the cloth shell while on said expanded mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; (e) retracting said mold; and (f) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14)
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9. A method of forming cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of:
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(a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over a mold having a size relative to the size of the preformed shell sufficient to place the entirety of the cloth shell in generally uniform tension; (c) treating the cloth shell while on said mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; and (d) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
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10. A method of forming polyester cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of:
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(a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished polyester cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over an expandable mold having a contour corresponding to the contour of said predetermined three-dimensional shape; (c) expanding said mold sufficient to place the preformed cloth shell in generally uniform circumferential tension; (d) tentering the cloth shell while on said expanded mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; (e) retracting said mold; and (f) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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15. A method of forming cloth into a three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of:
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(a) pretreating an unfinished cloth by heating said cloth to a temperature within about 75 degrees F. but below its heat setting temperature while maintaining said cloth in tension in the warp direction and without tension in the fill direction; (b) constructing a shell of predetermined configuration from said pretreated cloth; (c) placing said shell over a mold having a size and configuration relative to the size and configuration of the shell to place the entirety of the cloth shell in generally uniform tension; (d) treating the cloth shell while on said mold so that the cloth is set and said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; and (e) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
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Specification