Figure adjusting pad and process for manufacturing same

• US 5,340,352 A
• Filed: 05/28/1992
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sigel
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sigel
• Inventors: Amano, Masaaki, Nakanishi, Motoyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E.
• Application Number:
  US07/889,371
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 2/267, 2/268, 2/275, 2/22, 2/23, 2/24, 112/418, 112/419, 264/49, 450/30, 450/31, 450/32, 450/39, 450/40, 450/53, 450/54, 450/55, 450/56, 450/57, 623/7, 623/8
• US Class Current: 450/57
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/144 Pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/5044 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/52 Mammary prostheses brassieres A41C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/202 comprising elimination of a solid or a liquid ingredient

Abstract

A figure adjusting pad is capable of permitting a periphery of the pad to exhibit satisfactory shape retention without any independent core. The pad includes a silicone gel element formed therein with perforations and a stretchable fabric arranged for covering the silicone gel element and is trimmed. The perforations of the silicone gel element are formed by traces defined by elution of particles incorporated in a silicone gel stock solution for the silicone gel element. The trimmed portion includes the silicone gel element and is double-sewn together with the silicone gel element.

Claims

1. A figure adjusting pad comprising

a silicone gel element having a predetermined shape including an inner portion and an outer peripheral portion about a periphery of said inner portion;

a stretchable fabric covering said silicone gel element in such a manner that an outermost edge of said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element is exposed outwardly from said stretchable fabric;

wherein said silicone gel element has perforations formed therein which comprise traces formed by elution of particles incorporated in a silicone gel stock solution for said silicone gel element;

wherein said inner portion of said silicone gel element varies in thickness depending on location;

wherein said stretchable fabric and said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element are double-sewn at a predetermined location inwardly of said outermost edge of said outer peripheral portion in such a manner as to compress a portion of said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element and form an expanded portion outwardly of said predetermined location, said expanded portion having a thickness less than that of said inner portion of said silicone gel element; and

wherein said silicone gel element has a penetration of 40 to 60 measured according to JIS K2207-1980 (load;

50 g) and a void volume of 50 to 65% defined by said traces of elution of said particles.

2. A figure adjusting pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said particles comprise salt.

3. A figure adjusting pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said silicone gel element is formed into a shape in conformity to a breast of a woman.

4. A figure adjusting pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said particles comprise salt.

5. A figure adjusting pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said silicone gel element is formed into a shape in conformity to a breast of a woman.

9. A process as defined in claim 4, wherein said particles comprise salt and said perforating step is carried out by removing said salt from said silicone gel element by elution using water to provide said silicone gel element with said perforations.

6. A process for manufacturing a figure adjusting pad, comprising:

a shaping sheet adhering step for adhering a stretchable fabric and a shaping sheet to each other;

a mold forming step for forming said shaping sheet into two molds;

a pad blank forming step for pouring a silicone gel stock solution having particles incorporated therein into a stretchable fabric side of one of said molds, intimately contacting a stretchable fabric side of the other of said molds with said silicone gel stock solution and curing said silicone gel stock solution into a desired shape in a die while heating and pressurizing it, to thereby form a pad blank including a cured silicone gel element;

a peeling step for peeling only said shaping sheet from each of said molds;

a perforating step for removing said particles from said silicone gel element by elution to provide said silicone gel element with perforations;

a cutting-off step for cutting off an extra peripheral portion of said pad blank therefrom; and

a sewing step for double-sewing a cut periphery of said pad blank to form the figure adjusting pad;

at least one of said molds being formed with a peripheral overflow passage in said mold forming step;

said silicone gel stock solution being poured in said one mold in an amount sufficient to permit said silicone gel stock solution to extend to said peripheral overflow passage and then cured in said peripheral overflow passage as well as in said one mold during said molding forming step;

said pad blank being cut off at a portion thereof corresponding to said peripheral overflow.

7. A process as defined in claim 6, wherein said cutting-off step is carried out so as to leave on said pad blank at least a portion thereof which corresponds in position to said peripheral overflow passage of said mold.

8. A process as defined in claim 6, wherein said cutting-off step is carried out so as to leave on said pad blank no portion thereof which corresponds in position to said peripheral overflow passage of said mold.

10. A process as defined in claim 7, wherein said particles comprise salt and said perforating step is carried out by removing said salt from said silicone gel element by elution using water to provide said silicone el element with said perforations.

11. A process as defined in claim 8, wherein said particles comprise salt and said perforating step is carried out by removing said slat from said silicone gel element by elution using water to provide said silicone gel element with said perforations

12. A process as defined in claim 6, wherein, in said sewing step, an outer peripheral portion of said pad blank is double-sewn at a predetermined location inwardly of an outermost edge of said pad blank in such a manner as to compress said pad blank at said predetermined location and form an expanded portion outwardly of said predetermined location.

13. A process as defined in claim 12, wherein, further in said sewing step, a trimming fabric element is double-sewn with said pad blank such that said trimming fabric element is wrapped about said outermost edge of said pad blank.

14. A process as defined in claim 12, wherein, in said sewing step, the entire periphery of said pad blank is double-sewn.

15. A process for manufacturing a figure adjusting pad, comprising:

a shaping sheet adhering step for adhering a stretchable fabric and a shaping sheet to each other;

a mold forming step for forming said shaping sheet into two molds;

a pad blank forming step for pouring a silicone gel stock solution having particles incorporated therein into a stretchable fabric side of one of said molds and curing said silicone gel stock solution into a desired shape in a die while heating and pressuring it, to thereby form a pad blank including a cured silicone gel element;

a mold adhering step for adhering a stretchable fabric side of the other of said molds to an exposed surface of said silicone gel element;

a peeling step for peeling only said shaping sheet from each of said molds;

a perforating step for removing said particles from said silicone gel element by elution to provide said silicone gel element with perforations;

a cutting-off step for cutting off an extra peripheral portion of said pad blank therefrom; and

a sewing step for double-sewing a periphery of said pad blank to form the figure adjusting pad;

said one mold being formed with a peripheral overflow passage in said mold forming step;

said silicone gel stock solution being poured in said one mold in an amount sufficient to permit said silicone gel stock solution to extend to said peripheral overflow passage and then cured in said peripheral overflow passage as well as in said one mold during said mold forming step;

said pad blank being cut off at a portion thereof corresponding to said peripheral overflow passage.

16. A process as defined in claim 15, wherein said cutting-off step is carried out so as to leave on said pad blank at least a portion thereof which corresponds to said peripheral overflow passage of said mold.

17. A process as defined in claim 15, wherein said cutting-off step is carried out so as to leave on said pad blank no portion thereof which corresponds to said peripheral overflow passage of said mold.

18. A process as defined in claim 15, wherein said particles comprise salt and said perforating step is carried out by removing said salt from said silicone gel element by elution using water to provide said silicone gel element with said perforations.

19. A process as defined in claim 16, wherein said particles comprise salt and said perforating step is carried out by removing said salt from said silicone gel element by elution using water to provide said silicone gel element with said perforations.

20. A process as defined in claim 17, wherein said particles comprise salt and said perforating step is carried out by removing said salt from said silicone gel element by elution using water to provide said silicone gel element with said perforations.

21. A process as defined in claim 15, wherein said sewing step, an outer peripheral portion of said pad blank is double-sewn at a predetermined location inwardly of an outermost edge of said pad blank in such a manner as to compress said pad blank at said predetermined location and form an expanded portion outwardly of said predetermined location.

22. A process as defined in claim 21, wherein, further in said sewing step, a trimming fabric element is double-sewn with said pad blank such that said trimming fabric element is wrapped about said outermost edge of said pad blank.

23. A process as defined in claim 21, wherein, in said sewing step, the entire periphery of said pad blank is double-sewn.

24. A figure adjusting pad comprising;

a silicone gel element having a predetermined shape including an inner portion and an outer peripheral portion about a periphery of said inner portion;

a stretchable fabric covering said silicone gel element in such a manner that an outermost edge of said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element is exposed outwardly from said stretchable fabric;

wherein said silicone gel element has perforations formed therein which comprise traces formed by elution of particles incorporated in a silicone gel stock solution for said silicone gel element;

wherein said inner portion of said silicone gel element varies in thickness depending on location;

wherein said stretchable fabric and said outer peripheral portion of said silicon gel element are double-sewn at a predetermined location inwardly of said outermost edge of said outer peripheral portion in such a manner as to compress a portion of said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element and form an expanded portion outwardly of said predetermined location, said expanded portion having a thickness less than that of said inner portion of said silicone gel element; and

wherein a trimming fabric element is wrapped about the outermost edge of said outer peripheral portion of said silicone el element and about an outermost edge of said stretchable fabric, said trimming fabric element being double-sewn with said stretchable fabric and said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element at said predetermined location.

25. A figure adjusting pad as defined in claim 24, wherein said trimming fabric element, said stretchable fabric and said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element are double-sewn about an entire periphery of said figure adjusting pad.

26. A figure adjusting pad as defined in claim 24, wherein said stretchable fabric and said outer peripheral portion of said silicone gel element are double-sewn about an entire periphery of said figure adjusting pad.