US3891377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for fabric molding
Assignee: International Fabric Molders Inc
•
Filing: 1973-06-22
•
Granted: 1975-06-24
•
Expires: 1993-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for moldng flat fabrics into three-dimensional shapes, such as breast cups, brassieres, garments and the like. The invention utilizes a conventional hydraulic press having molds which are movable vertically by a hydraulic ram into engagement with the fabric disposed between them. A reciprocally mounted heating rack is used for radially heating the fabric while it is disposed between the molds immediately prior to their closing. Electrically operated heating rods are provided adjacent the bases of the mold halves for conductively heating the molds. The invention provides for heating both the molds and fabric simultaneously to a lesser degree than in conventional hot and cold molding. The resulting molded fabric has all of the advantages of prior hot and cold molded fabrics, without their disadvantages.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack E Howard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:58
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/08; B29C51/002; B29C51/004; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1043; Y10T156/1044; Y10T156/1048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In an apparatus for molding flat thermoplastic fabric material into three dimensional contours which includes a hydraulic press having complementary male and female molds disposed in alignment with each other and means for moving said molds into engagement with each other with said fabric disposed between said molds, the improvement which comprises means for heating said molds, independent means for simultaneously radially heating said fabric immediately prior to molding, and means for controlling said heating and molding, both said molds and fabric being heated to a lesser degree of heat than if either the molds or the fabric were heated alone to such a degree for an adequate shaping as in conventional hot and cold molding, whereby said fabric, when molded with said lesser degree of heat, in both the molds and fabric, has better laundering qualities than conventional cold molded fabric and a softer feel and less distortion than conventional hot molded fabric.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In an apparatus for molding flat thermoplastic fabric material into three dimensional contours which includes a hydraulic press having complementary male and female molds disposed in alignment with each other and means for moving said molds into engagement with each other with said fabric disposed between said molds, the improvement which comprises means for heating said molds, independent means for simultaneously radially heating said fabric immediately prior to molding, and means for controlling said heating and molding, both said molds and fabric being heated to a lesser degree of heat than if either the molds or the fabric were heated alone to such a degree for an adequate shaping as in conventional hot and cold molding, whereby said fabric, when molded with said lesser degree of heat, in both the molds and fabric, has better laundering qualities than conventional cold molded fabric and a softer feel and less distortion than conventional hot molded fabric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The structure described in claim 1, in which said fabric is mounted on a rack movable into a position between said molds, said means for heating said fabric comprising a heater rack mounted for reciprocal movement into a position between said molds parallel to said fabric, said means for heating said molds comprising electrically operated conductive heating rods disposed beneath said molds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The structure described in claim 2, and means for separately controlling the heating of said molds, the heating of said fabric and the duration of said fabric heating and molding, whereby the heating and molding temperature and duration can be varied for different types of fabric and whereby the same hydraulic press can be used for hot molding by heating only said molds, for cold molding by heating only said fabric and for combination molding in which said molds and fabric are heated simultaneously.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2521282A
Cited
US2874751A
Cited
US3025566A
Cited
US3127497A
Cited
US3058154A
Cited
US3167816A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |