Hosiery inspection device and method

• US 6,745,481 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises LLC (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
• Inventors: Faircloth, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoolahan, Amanda J
• Application Number:
  US10/102,581
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 33/2.A, 33/2.R, 33/3.R, 33/4, 33/3.B, 33/3.C, 33/11, 33/8
• US Class Current: 33/2.00A
• CPC Class Codes: D06H 3/16 Inspecting hosiery or other tubular fabric; Inspecting in combination with turning inside-out, classifying, or other handling

Abstract

A pantyhose inspection device comprises a flat panel having two spaced-apart legs extending upwardly from a bifurcation point, a transverse bar positioned between the two legs, a vertical center bar having a plurality of center seam measurement indicators, a vertical, rectangular-shaped cut-out on each side of the center bar, a plurality of panty volume indicators, toe length indicators, a waistband attachment mechanism, and a waistband stretch measurement scale. Such a device allows quick and reliable assessment of gusset placement, center seam straightness and stretch, panty volume, toe length, and waistband stretch in a pantyhose garment using a single device.

Claims

1. A pantyhose inspection device comprising:

a substantially flat panel having a central vertical axis;

two spaced apart legs extending upwardly from the panel;

a transverse bar positioned between the two legs; and

a center bat extending vertically downward from between the two spaced apart legs along the central vertical axis, the center bar comprising a plurality of center seam measurement indicators;

wherein when a pantyhose garment having a gusset and a center seam is stretched over the legs, the transverse bar, and the panel, the gusset is viewable below the transverse bar for inspection of medial seams for front-to-back alignment and of lateral seams for side-to-side alignment, the center seam is viewable for inspection of alignment with the center bar, and center seam stretch of the pantyhose garment is viewable for inspection in relation to the center bar measurement indicators.

2. The inspection device of claim 1, the panel further comprising a plurality of panty volume indicators, wherein when the pantyhose garment is stretched over the panel, a panty volume of the pantyhose garment is viewable for inspection.

3. The inspection device of claim 1, the legs further comprising a toe length indicator, wherein when the pantyhose garment is stretched over the legs, a toe length of the pantyhose a garment is viewable for inspection.

4. The inspection device of claim 1, the panel further comprising a pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism and a waistband stretch scale, wherein when a pantyhose waistband is attached to the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism and stretched along the waistband stretch scale, a measurement of the amount of waistband stretch of the pantyhose is determinable.

5. The inspection device of claim 4, wherein the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism comprises a hook.

6. The inspection device of claim 4, wherein the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism is located at a bottom of the panel.

7. The inspection device of claim 1, wherein the upwardly extending legs are tapered.

8. The inspection device of claim 7, wherein the upwardly extending legs angle towards the central vertical axis of the panel.

9. The inspection device of claim 1, wherein the upwardly extending legs angle towards the central vertical axis of the panel.

10. The inspection device of claim 1, the panel further comprising a rectangular cut-out located on each side of the central vertical axis in adjacent relationship thereto.

11. The inspection device of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises rigid material.

12. The inspection device of claim 11, wherein the panel comprises aluminum.

13. The inspection device of claim 11, wherein the panel comprises plastic.

14. The inspection device of claim 1, the panel further comprising a front and a back, wherein the front and the back are identical.

15. The inspection device of claim 1, further comprising a base rotatably attached to the panel.

16. The inspection device of claim 15, wherein the base comprises a means for moving the base and the panel.

17. The inspection device of claim 15, wherein the means for moving the base and the panel comprises casters.

18. A pantyhose inspection device comprising:

a substantially flat panel having a central vertical axis;

two spaced apart legs extending upwardly from the panel;

a transverse bar positioned between the two legs;

a center bar extending vertically downward from between the two spaced apart legs along the central vertical axis, the center bar comprising a plurality of center seam measurement indicators;

a plurality of panty volume indicators spaced apart alone pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion on the panel;

a toe length indicator;

a pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism; and

a pantyhose waistband measurement scale,

wherein when a pantyhose garment is stretched over the legs, the transverse bar, and the panel, gusset alignment, center seam alignment, panty volume, toe length, and center seam stretch of the pantyhose garment is each viewable for inspection;

wherein the center seam is viewable for inspection of alignment with the center bar, and center seam stretch of the pantyhose garment is viewable for inspection in relation to the center bar measurement indicators; and

wherein when a pantyhose waistband is attached to the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism and stretched along the pantyhose waistband measurement scale, a measurement of waistband stretch of the pantyhose is determinable.

19. The inspection device of claim 18, the panel further comprising a front and a back, wherein the front and the back are identical.

20. The inspection device of claim 18, further comprising a base rotatably attached to the panel.

21. The inspection device of claim 20, wherein the base comprises a means for moving the base and the panel.

22. A pantyhose inspection device comprising:

a substantially flat panel having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and two sides, the panel symmetrical about a central vertical axis between the two sides;

two legs extending upwardly from the top of the panel and spaced apart beginning at a bifurcation point;

a transverse bar positioned between the two legs, the spaced apart legs and transverse bar defining a triangular crotch area;

a center bar extending vertically downward from the bifurcation point along the central vertical axis to the bottom of the panel, the center bar having a plurality of measurement indicators in a vertical direction; and

each side of the panel comprising a cut-out adjacent the center bar in the vertical direction;

wherein when a pantyhose garment having a gusset and a center seam is placed over the legs and the panel, the gusset is viewable for inspection in the triangular crotch area below the transverse bar for inspection of medial seams for front-to-back alignment and of lateral seams for side-to-side alignment, the center seam is viewable for inspection of alignment with the center bar, and center seam stretch is viewable for inspection in relation to the center bar measurement indicators.

23. The inspection device of claim 22, the panel further comprising a plurality of panty volume indicators spaced apart along pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion, wherein when the pantyhose garment is stretched downwardly over the panel, a panty volume of the pantyhose garment is measurable in relation to the zones of panty volume expansion.

24. The inspection device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of panty volume indicators comprises volume indicators along each of the two sides of the panel.

25. The inspection device of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of panty volume indicators comprises a downwardly arcuate line.

26. The inspection device of claim 22, each of the two legs further comprising at least two spaced apart toe length indicators defining a pre-determined range for acceptable pantyhose toe length, wherein when a leg of the pantyhose garment having a toe length is placed over one of the legs of the panel, the pantyhose garment toe length is measurable in relation to the at least two spaced apart toe length indicators.

27. The inspection device of claim 26, wherein the at least two spaced apart toe length indicators comprise substantially parallel lines.

28. The inspection device of claim 22, the panel further comprising a pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism for releasably attaching a pantyhose waistband and a waistband stretch measurement scale, wherein when a pantyhose waistband is attached to the attachment mechanism, a waistband stretch quantity is measurable in relation to the waistband stretch measurement scale.

29. The inspection device of claim 28, wherein the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism comprises a hook.

30. The inspection device of claim 28, wherein the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism is located at the bottom of the panel.

31. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the upwardly extending legs are tapered.

32. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the upwardly extending legs angle towards the central vertical axis of the panel.

33. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the transverse bar comprises a position so proximate the bifurcation point.

34. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the cut-out in each side of the panel comprises a rectangular shape.

35. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the panel further comprises rigid material.

36. The inspection device of claim 35, wherein the panel comprises aluminum.

37. The inspection device of claim 35, wherein the panel comprises plastic.

38. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the front and the back of the inspection device are identical.

39. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the pantyhose inspection device further comprises a base.

40. The inspection device of claim 39, wherein the base is attached to the bottom of the panel.

41. The inspection device of claim 39, wherein the panel is rotatable in relation to the base.

42. The inspection device of claim 39, wherein the base comprises a means for moving the base and the panel.

43. The inspection device of claim 42, wherein the means for moving the base and the panel comprises casters.

44. The inspection device of claim 22, wherein the panel further comprises a non-stick it coating.

45. A pantyhose inspection device comprising:

a substantially flat panel having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and two sides, the panel symmetrical about a central vertical axis between the two sides;

two legs extending upwardly from the top of the panel and spaced apart beginning at a bifurcation point, each leg tapered distally from the bifurcation point and angled towards the central vertical axis of the panel;

a transverse bar positioned between the two legs, the spaced apart legs and transverse bar defining a triangular crotch area;

a center bar extending vertically downward from the bifurcation point along the central vertical axis to the bottom of the panel, the center bar having a plurality of measurement indicators in a vertical direction;

each side of the panel comprising a rectangular-shaped cut-out adjacent the center bar in the vertical direction;

a plurality of panty volume indicators spaced apart along pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion on each of the two sides of the panel;

at least two spaced apart toe length indicators located on each of the two legs defining a pre-determined range for acceptable pantyhose toe length; and

the panel further comprising a pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism and a waistband stretch measurement scale,

wherein when a pantyhose garment having a gusset, a center seam, a panty volume, and a toe length is placed over the legs and the panel, the gusset is viewable for inspection below the transverse bar in the triangular crotch area for inspection of medial seams for front-to-back alignment and of lateral seams for side-to-side alignment, and the center seam is viewable for inspection of alignment relative to the center bar and center seam stretch is viewable for inspection in relation to the center bar measurement indicators,

wherein the panty volume is measurable in relation to the zones of panty volume expansion,

wherein the toe length is measurable in relation to the at least two spaced apart toe length indicators, and

wherein when a pantyhose waistband is attached to the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism and stretched along the waistband stretch measurement scale, a waistband stretch quantity is measurable in relation to the waistband stretch measurement scale.

46. The inspection device of claim 45, wherein the front and the back of the inspection device are identical.

47. The inspection device of claim 45, further comprising a movable base attached to the bottom of the panel, the panel rotatable in relation to the base.

48. A method for inspecting a pantyhose garment having a gusset, a center seam, a panty volume, a toe length, and a waistband with a single inspection device in a manufacturing production line, comprising:

inspecting alignment of the gusset;

inspecting alignment of the center seam;

determining a measurement of center seam stretch;

inspecting the panty volume;

inspecting the toe length; and

determining a measurement of waistband stretch.

49. A method for inspecting a pantyhose garment in a manufacturing production line, comprising:

providing a pantyhose inspection device comprising a substantially flat panel having a central vertical axis, two spaced apart legs, and a transverse bar positioned between the two legs, the panel further comprising a center bar extending vertically downward from between the two spaced apart lees along the central vertical axis, the center bar comprising a plurality of center seam measurement indicators, a plurality of panty volume indicators spaced apart along pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion on the panel, a toe seam position indicator, a pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism, and a pantyhose waistband measurement scale;

stretching a pantyhose garment having a gusset, a center seam, a panty volume, a toe seam, and a waistband over the legs, the transverse bar, and the panel;

inspecting front-to-back alignment and side-to-side alignment of the gusset below the transverse bar;

inspecting alignment of the center seam in relation to the center bar along the central vertical axis;

determining a measurement of center seam stretch in relation to the plurality of center seam measurement indicators;

inspecting the panty volume in relation to the plurality of panty volume indicators;

inspecting a position of the toe seam in relation to the toe seam position indicator;

attaching the waistband to the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism;

stretching the waistband along the pantyhose waistband measurement scale; and

determining a measurement of waistband stretch in relation to the pantyhose waistband measurement scale.

50. The method of claim 49, the panel fiurther comprising a front and a back, wherein the front and the back are identical.

51. The method of claim 49, the pantyhose inspection device further comprising a base rotatably attached to the panel.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the base comprises a means for moving the base and the panel.

53. A method for inspecting a pantyhose garment comprising:

providing a pantyhose inspection device comprising a substantially flat panel having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and two sides, the panel symmetrical about a central vertical axis between the two sides, two legs extending upwardly from the top of the panel and spaced apart beginning at a bifurcation point, a transverse bar positioned between the two legs, the spaced apart legs and transverse bar defining a triangular crotch area, the legs tapered distally from the transverse bar and angled towards the central vertical axis of the panel, a center bar extending vertically downward along the central vertical axis from the bifurcation point to the bottom of the panel, the center bar having a plurality of measurement indicators in a vertical direction, and each side of the panel comprising a rectangular-shaped cut-out adjacent the center bar in the vertical direction;

stretching a pantyhose garment having a gusset, a center seam, and a waistband over the legs and the panel;

inspecting front-to-back alignment and side-to-side alignment of the gusset below the transverse bar through the triangular crotch area;

inspecting alignment of the center seam in relation to the center bar;

determining a measurement of center seam stretch in relation to the center bar measurement indicators; and

comparing the center seam stretch measurement with pre-determined manufacturing parameters.

54. The method of claim 53, the panel further comprising a plurality of panty volume indicators spaced apart along pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion, and each of the two sides further comprising an edge, the method further comprising:

stretching the pantyhose garment waistband downwardly along each edge; and

comparing the location of the stretched waistband in relation to the pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion.

55. The method of claim 53, each of the two legs further comprising at least two spaced apart toe length indicators defining a pre-determined range for acceptable pantyhose toe length, the method further comprising:

stretching a pantyhose garment having a toe length over one of the legs of the panel; and

comparing the pantyhose garment toe length in relation to the at least two spaced apart toe length indicators.

56. The method of claim 53, each of the two sides further comprising an edge and the panel further comprising a pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism located proximate at least one of the edges for releasably attaching a pantyhose waistband and a waistband measurement scale along at least one of the edges proximate the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism, the method further comprising:

attaching a pantyhose waistband to the attachment mechanism;

stretching the pantyhose waistband along the edge of the panel;

determining a measurement of waistband stretch in relation to the measurement scale along the edge of the panel; and

comparing the waistband stretch measurement with pre-determined manufacturing parameters.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the pantyhose waistband attachment mechanism comprises a hook located at the bottom of the panel.

58. A method for inspecting a pantyhose garment comprising:

providing a pantyhose inspection device comprising a substantially flat panel having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and two sides each having an edge, the panel symmetrical about a central vertical axis between the two sides, two legs extending upwardly from the top of the panel and spaced apart beginning at a bifurcation point, a transverse bar positioned between the two legs, the spaced apart legs and transverse bar defining a triangular crotch area, the legs tapered distally from the transverse bar and angled towards the central vertical axis of the panel, a center bar extending vertically downward along the central vertical axis from the bifurcation point to the bottom of the panel, the center bar having a plurality of measurement indicators in a vertical direction, and each side of the panel comprising a rectangular-shaped cut-out adjacent the center bar in the vertical direction, a plurality of panty volume indicators spaced apart along pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion on the panel, each of the two legs further comprising at least two spaced apart toe length indicators defining a pre-determined range for acceptable pantyhose toe length, a hook for releasably attaching a pantyhose waistband, and a waistband stretch measurement scale along at least one of the edges;

stretching a pantyhose garment having a gusset, a center seam, a panty volume, a toe length, and a waistband over the legs, the transverse bar, and the panel;

inspecting front-to-back alignment and side-to-side alignment of the gusset below the transverse bar through the triangular crotch area;

inspecting alignment of the center scam in relation to the center bar;

determining a measurement of center seam stretch in relation to the center bar measurement indicators;

comparing the center seam stretch measurement with pre-determined manufacturing parameters;

stretching the pantyhose garment waistband downwardly along each edge of the panel;

comparing the location of the stretched waistband in relation to the pre-determined zones of panty volume expansion;

comparing the position of the pantyhose garment toe length in relation to the at least two spaced apart toe length indicators;

attaching a pantyhose waistband to the hook;

stretching the waistband along the edge of the panel;

determining a measurement of waistband stretch in relation to the measurement scale along the edge of the panel; and

comparing the waistband stretch measurement with pre-determined manufacturing parameters.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the front and the back of the panel are identical.

60. The method of claim 58, the pantyhose inspection device further comprising a base rotatably attached to the panel.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the base comprises a means for moving the base and the panel.