US3974946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pleat measuring and forming device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-08-08
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Granted: 1976-08-17
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Expires: 1995-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A device to facilitate the pleating of a fabric material comprising a substantially flat sheet of plastic having alternating scorings on each side of the plastic device. On one side the scorings have a substantially V-shaped cross-section and on the opposite side the scorings have an arcuate cross-section. The scoring lines are parallel to each other and are equally spaced from each other to thereby facilitate folding the plastic device accordion style.
Inventors
- 👤 Pat Gentry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:40
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47H; A47H13/00; A47H13/14; D; D06; D06J; D06J1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A pleat measuring and forming device for accurately reproducing identical plates in a fabric material comprising: a first contiguous rigid material of uniform thickness having a plurality of first and second scorings alternating on each side of said rigid materials for folding said rigid material accordion style along said alternate scorings, and a second contiguous rigid material having scorings cooperating with the scorings on said first rigid material for folding said first rigid material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A pleat measuring and forming device for accurately reproducing identical plates in a fabric material comprising: a first contiguous rigid material of uniform thickness having a plurality of first and second scorings alternating on each side of said rigid materials for folding said rigid material accordion style along said alternate scorings, and a second contiguous rigid material having scorings cooperating with the scorings on said first rigid material for folding said first rigid material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which said first scorings have a substantially V-shaped cross-section on one side of said rigid material and said second scorings have an arcuate cross-section on the opposite side of said rigid material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 2 in which said arcuate cross-section has a substantially large radius of curvature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which said first and second scorings each reduce the thickness of said first material by substantially 80 percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which said first rigid material is constructed of plastic having a thickness of approximately 0.050 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which all of said first scorings and all of said second scorings are parallel to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 6 in which the distances between the center lines of alternate scorings are equal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which said second rigid material has a uniform thickness and comprises a plurality of first and second scorings alternating on each side of said rigid material for folding said rigid material accordion style along said alternate scorings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 8 in which said first scorings have a substantially V-shaped cross-section on one side of said rigid material and said second scorings have an arcuate cross-section on the opposite side of said rigid material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 8 in which said first scorings on said first rigid material are aligned with said second scorings on said second rigid material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 10 in which said first rigid material and said second rigid material are hinged together whereby the first scorings on said first rigid material nest within the second scorings on said second rigid material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which said second rigid material has a uniform thickness and comprises a plurality of V-shaped scorings on only one side of said rigid material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 12 in which said V-shaped scorings on said second rigid material nests within at least one of said scorings on said first rigid material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which the first rigid material is folded in half about a first scoring and maintained in said folded positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pleat measuring and forming device according to claim 1 in which said second rigid material has a single arcuate scoring on one side and is folded in half to form a substantially U-shaped member.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of producing a pinch pleat from a single large pleat having a header material that comprises the steps of: first folding a header material about a guide which will establish the position of the defined pinch pleat, then stitching the folded header material while still encompassing the guide, then folding the guide and the encompassing header material accordion style into three equal parts, then stitching the lowermost portion of the finished pinch pleat, and then removing the guide from within the material thereby leaving a finished pinch pleat.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of producing a pinch pleat from a single large pleat having a header material that comprises the steps of: first folding a header material about a guide which will establish the position of the defined pinch pleat, then stitching the folded header material while still encompassing the guide, then folding the guide and the encompassing header material accordion style into three equal parts, then stitching the lowermost portion of the finished pinch pleat, and then removing the guide from within the material thereby leaving a finished pinch pleat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-17 | 1980-02-16 | 1980-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-17 | 1984-02-16 | 1984-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-17 | 1988-02-16 | 1988-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |