Wearing apparel

Claim 2

A continuous process for the manufacture of briefs, overlying substantially rectangular fabric pieces, comprising cutting out portions from opposite sides of each piece to form leg-shape margins, fixing an elastic strip under tension to each leg-shape margin and to each of the opposite ends of the piece, then, with each elastic strip held in a stretched state sufficient to prevent any significant puckering of the fabric adjacent to the elastic strips, folding the piece along a line passing through the leg-shape margins to bring the ends of the piece into overlying relationship and joining the edges of the overlying sides to form hip-clinging portions of the briefs.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the fabric piece is clamped in a flat state between two plate members with marginal portions of the piece exposed at the periphery of the plate members during the cutting out of the portions to form the leg-shape margins and during the operation attaching the elastic strips.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastic strips fitted under tension to the leg-shaped margins and to the opposite ends of the piece are permitted to relax after being fastened to the piece and are then brought to the reqUired stretched state prior to the folding and side-joining operation by grippers which grip the elastic strip adjacent each end and then move outwardly.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the piece is folded by securing to a folding frame having holding means mounted thereon for holding each elastic strip in the stretched state during the folding operation.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the cutting out of each portion to form a leg-shape margin is carried out immediately prior to sewing the elastic strip on the leg-shape margin.

Claim 7

A process as claimed in claim 1 in which each end of the piece is trimmed immediately prior to an elastic strip being attached.

Claim 8

A continuous process for the manufacture of briefs which comprises forming from a fabric, a blank having first and second parallel edges and third and fourth edges substantially parallel to one another and orthogonal to said first and second edges, said third and fourth edges having cutout portions with leg-shape margins, fixing an elastic strip, under tension, to each leg-shape margin and to said first and second edges, then, with each elastic strip held in a stretched state sufficient to prevent significant puckering of the fabric adjacent said strips, folding the blank along a line passing through the leg-shape margins to bring said first and second edges into overlying relationship and joining portions of the third and fourth edges not cut out to form hip-clinging portions of the briefs.

Claim 9

A continuous process for the manufacture of briefs which comprises forming from a fabric, a blank having first and second parallel edges and third and fourth edges substantially parallel to one another and orthogonal to said first and second edges, said third and fourth edges having cutout portions with leg-shape margins, fixing an elastic strip, under tension, to each leg-shape margin and to said first and second edges, then, with each elastic strip held in a stretched state sufficient to prevent significant puckering of the fabric adjacent said strips, folding the blank along a line passing through the leg-shape margins to bring said first and second edges into overlying relationship and joining portions of the third and fourth edges not cut out to form hip-clinging portions of the briefs.