Folding assembly

• US 6,269,987 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Goldpace Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Goldpace Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: LaPace, Ronald J., LaPace, Christine L., Smalley, Charles R., LaDue, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): MOHANTY, BIBHU R
• Application Number:
  US09/425,575
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 223/37, 223/38, 223/120, 493/405, 211/19
• US Class Current: 223/37
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 89/02 of textile articles to be worn, e.g. shirts

Abstract

A folding assembly structured to arrange any one of a plurality of different articles into a folded orientation and including an orienting device having a main segment and at least two outwardly extending and spaced apart side segments, wherein the main segments and two side segments are initially disposed in engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded. An attachment assembly in the form of a flexible material connector pivotally attaches each of the side segments in spaced relation to the main segment and outwardly spaced relation therefrom. The flexible material connectors thereby serve to accommodate the folding of articles of various thicknesses, in that they allow for the automatic spaced positioning of each of the sides segments at different spaced distances above the main segment as the different portions of the article are being oriented when the side segments are in a folded position. A support assembly comprises an elongated configuration selectively disposable into either a supporting position or a collapsed, stored position, wherein the supporting position is defined by disposing the orienting device at a convenient height above a supporting surface to facilitate the arranging of the articles into the preferred folded position. The support assembly also includes a brace assembly disposable into an operative and in-operative position to selectively support the side segments to define a support surface.

Claims

1. A folding assembly structured to arrange an article into a folded orientation, said folding assembly comprising:

a) an orienting device, said orienting device including a main segment and at least two side segments disposed in engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded,

b) an attachment assembly securing each of said side segments to said orienting device in movable relation to said main segment,

c) said side segments selectively positionable between an expanded position and a folded position;

said expanded position at least partially defined by said side segments extending laterally outward from said main segment in spaced relation thereto and said folded position defined by each of said side segments independently disposed in substantially overlapping relation to said main segment,

d) a support assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device,

e) said attachment assembly including at least two flexible material connectors each movably securing a different one of said side segments to said orienting device.

2. A folding assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said support assembly comprises a base disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device so as to define a support surface at said orienting device.

3. A folding assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said base includes a pair of brace members structured to selectively extend into supporting, engaging relation with each of said side segments so as to vary a size of said support surface.

4. A folding assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said attachment assembly is structured to permit selective downward pivotal movement of said side segments, upon a corresponding one of said brace members being disposed in a retracted, in-operative position, so as to selectively reduce said size of said support surface.

5. A folding assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said attachment assembly comprises at least two flexible material connectors structured to provide two way pivotal movement of said side segments.

6. A folding assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said support assembly comprises an elongated configuration extending substantially vertically upward from a supporting surface into supporting engagement with said orienting device at an upper end of said support assembly.

7. A folding assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said support assembly is structured to be selectively disposed between a supporting position and a substantially collapsed, stored position.

8. A folding assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said support assembly comprises a plurality of support members movably connected to one another and selectively disposable between a supporting position and a stored position.

9. A folding assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said supporting position is at least partially defined by said plurality of support members collectively extending substantially vertically upward from a supporting surface into engagement with said orienting device at an upper end thereof.

10. A folding assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said stored position is at least partially defined by said pair of support members collectively disposed in a substantially aligned, collapsed position having a substantially flat configuration.

11. A folding assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said support assembly comprises a base movably connected to said plurality of support members and disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, when said support assembly is in said supporting position.

12. A folding assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said base is disposed in substantially aligned, overlapping position when said support assembly is in said stored position.

13. A folding assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said stored position is further defined by said plurality of support members collectively disposed in a substantially aligned, collapsed position having a substantially flat configuration.

14. A folding assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said supporting position is at least partially defined by said plurality of support members collectively extending substantially vertically upward from a supporting surface and said base is substantially horizontally oriented into engagement with said orienting device at an upper end of said plurality of support members.

15. A folding assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said support assembly further comprises a roller assembly secured to said plurality of support members in opposed relation to said base.

16. A folding assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said support assembly comprises a base movably connected to said plurality of support members and disposable in supporting engagement with said orienting device.

17. A folding assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein said support assembly further comprises a brace assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said side segments when said side segments are in said expanded position.

18. A folding assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said brace assembly is selectively positionable between an operative position and an in-operative position.

19. A folding assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein said operative position is at least partially defined by said brace assembly extending laterally outward from said base into supporting engagement with an under portion of each of said side segments.

20. A folding assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said in-operative position is at least partially defined by said brace assembly disposed in substantially aligned, immediately adjacent relation to said base.

21. A folding assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein said brace assembly comprises at least two brace members independently movably mounted on said support assembly relative to said base, each of said brace members selectively extending laterally outward from a different peripheral portion of said base into supporting engagement with a different one of said side segments to define said operative position.

22. A folding assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein each of said brace members is slidingly mounted on said support assembly towards and away from said base so as to at least partially define said in-operative and said operative positions respectively.

23. A folding assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said operative position of said brace assembly is further defined by each of said brace members extending outwardly a variable distance from said base, dependent on the size of corresponding ones of said side segments.

24. A folding assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said attachment assembly comprises at least two flexible material connectors each movably securing a different one of said side segments to said main segment.

25. A folding assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein said flexible material connectors are structured to permit two way pivotal movement of said side segments.

26. A folding assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said main segment includes an etched center line defined therein.

27. A folding assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a storage facility operatively associated therewith and structured to contain a plurality of said articles.

28. A folding assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said orienting device further comprises at least one extension member moveable outwardly to selectively vary the effective size of said main segment.

29. A folding assembly as recited in claim 28 comprising at least two of said extension members.

30. A folding assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein each of said extension members is movably disposed in interconnecting relation between said main segment and a different one of said side segments.

31. A folding assembly as recited in claim 30 wherein said attachment assembly comprises at least two flexible material connectors each movably securing one of said side segments to a different one of said extension members.

32. A folding assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein each of said side segments is laterally moveable towards and away from said main segments along with a corresponding extension member to which it is secured.

33. A folding assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein each of said extension members is laterally positionable towards and away from opposite sides of said main segment.

34. A folding assembly as recited in claim 33 wherein each of said extension members is independently disposable into a plurality of spaced apart, incrementally variable positions outwardly from said main segment.

35. A folding assembly designed to arrange an article into a folded orientation, said folding assembly comprising:

a) an orienting device including a main segment and at least two side segments disposed in engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded,

b) said side segments movably secured to said main segment and selectively positionable between an expanded position and a folded position,

c) a support assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device and structured to be selectively disposed in either a supporting position or a stored position, and

d) said support assembly comprising an elongated configuration extending substantially vertically upward from a supporting surface into supporting engagement with said orienting device at an upper end of said support assembly when in said supporting position.

36. A folding assembly as recited in claim 35 wherein said support assembly comprises a plurality of support members movably connected to one another and selectively disposable between said supporting position and stored position.

37. A folding assembly as recited in claim 36 wherein said support assembly comprises a base movably connected to said plurality of support members and disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, when said support assembly is in said supporting position.

38. A folding assembly as recited in claim 37 wherein said stored position is at least partially defined by said plurality of support members collectively disposed in a substantially aligned, collapsed position and having a substantially flat configuration.

39. A folding assembly as recited in claim 38 wherein said supporting position is at least partially defined by said plurality of support members collectively extending substantially vertically outward from a supporting surface and said base is substantially horizontally oriented into engagement with said orienting device at an upper end of said plurality of support members.

40. An assembly as recited in claim 35 wherein said support assembly comprises a base movably connected to said plurality of support members and disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, when said support assembly is in said supporting position, said support assembly further comprising a brace assembly disposed into supporting engagement with said side segment when said side segments are in said expanded position.

41. A folding assembly as recited in claim 40 wherein said brace assembly is selectively positionable between an operative position and an in-operative position;

said operative position being at least partially defined by said brace assembly extending laterally outward from said base into supporting engagement with an under portion of each of said side segments.

42. A folding assembly as recited in claim 40 wherein said brace assembly comprises at least two brace members movably mounted on said support assembly relative to said base, each of said brace members extending laterally outward from a different peripheral portion of said base into supporting engagement with a different one of said side segments to define said operative position.

43. A folding assembly as recited in claim 42 wherein said operative position of said brace assembly is further defined by each of said brace members extending outwardly a variable distance from said base, depended on sides of corresponding ones of said side segments.

44. A folding assembly designed to arrange an article into a folded orientation, said folding assembly comprising:

a) an orienting device including a main segment and at least two sides of segments disposed in an engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded,

b) an attachment assembly disposed in interconnecting relation between said main segment and each of said side segments,

c) said attachment assembly comprising at least two flexible material connectors each substantially pivotally securing a different one of said side segments in laterally outward spaced relation to said base,

d) a support assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device and structured to be selectively disposed in either a supporting position or a stored position, and

e) said support assembly comprising an elongated configuration extending substantially vertically outward from a supporting surface into supporting engagement with said orienting device at an upper end of said support assembly when said support assembly is in said supporting position.

45. A folding assembly as recited in claim 44 wherein said support assembly comprises a base movably connected to said plurality of support members and disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, when said support assembly is in said supporting position.

46. An assembly as recited in claim 45 wherein said support assembly further comprises a brace assembly disposed into supporting engagement with said side segments when said side segments are in an outwardly expanded position.

47. An assembly as recited in claim 46 wherein said brace assembly comprises at least two brace members movably mounted on said support assembly between an operative position and an in-operative position relative to said base, each of said brace members extending laterally outward from different peripheral portions of said base into supporting engagement with a different one of said side segments to define said operative position.

48. A folding assembly as recited in claim 47 wherein each of said brace members is slidingly mounted on said support assembly towards and away from said base so as to at least partially define said in-operative and said operative positions respectively.

49. A folding assembly as recited in claim 48 wherein said operative position of said brace assembly is further define by each of said brace members extending outwardly a variable distance from said base, depended on the sides of corresponding ones of said side segments.

50. A folding assembly structured to arrange an article into a folded orientation, said folding assembly comprising:

a) an orienting device, said orienting device including a main segment and at least two side segments disposed in engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded,

b) an attachment assembly securing each of said side segments to said orienting device in movable relation to said main segment,

c) said side segments selectively positionable between an expanded position and a folded position;

said expanded position at least partially defined by said side segments extending laterally outward from said main segment in spaced relation thereto and said folded position defined by each of said side segments independently disposed in substantially overlapping relation to said main segment,

d) a support assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, and

e) said attachment assembly structured to permit selective downward pivotal movement of said side segments, so as to selectively reduce said size of said orienting device.

51. A folding assembly structured to arrange an article into a folded orientation, said folding assembly comprising:

a) an orienting device, said orienting device including a main segment and at least two side segments disposed in engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded,

b) an attachment assembly securing each of said side segments to said orienting device in movable relation to said main segment,

c) said side segments selectively positionable between an expanded position and a folded position;

said expanded position at least partially defined by said side segments extending laterally outward from said main segment in spaced relation thereto and said folded position defined by each of said side segments independently disposed in substantially overlapping relation to said main segment,

d) a support assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, and

e) said support assembly structured to be selectively disposed between a supporting position and a substantially collapsed, stored position.

52. A folding assembly structured to arrange an article into a folded orientation, said folding assembly comprising:

a) an orienting device, said orienting device including a main segment and at least two side segments disposed in engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded,

b) an attachment assembly securing each of said side segments to said orienting device in movable relation to said main segment,

c) said side segments selectively positionable between an expanded position and a folded position;

said expanded position at least partially defined by said side segments extending laterally outward from said main segment in spaced relation thereto and said folded position defined by each of said side segments independently disposed in substantially overlapping relation to said main segment,

d) a support assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, and

e) said main segment including an etched center line defined therein.

53. A folding assembly structured to arrange an article into a folded orientation, said folding assembly comprising:

a) an orienting device, said orienting device including a main segment and at least two side segments disposed in engaging relation to different portions of the article being folded,

b) an attachment assembly securing each of said side segments to said orienting device in movable relation to said main segment,

c) said side segments selectively positionable between an expanded position and a folded position;

said expanded position at least partially defined by said side segments extending laterally outward from said main segment in spaced relation thereto and said folded position defined by each of said side segments independently disposed in substantially overlapping relation to said main segment,

d) a support assembly disposed in supporting engagement with said orienting device, and

e) said orienting device further including at least one extension member moveable outwardly to selectively vary the effective size of said main segment.