US3981670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for shaping a brassiere
Assignee: Central Corsetera SA
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Filing: 1974-09-06
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Granted: 1976-09-21
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Expires: 1994-09-06
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for at least partially forming a brassiere having a pair of male molds provided with substantially conical outer surfaces, which molds are movably supported on a first support device so that the spacing between the molds can be selectively varied. A die assembly is spaced opposite the molds and has a pair of circular openings extending therethrough, which openings are aligned with the molds. Clamping devices are provided for supporting a sheet of flexible material adjacent the die assembly so that the material extends across the openings. A driving device, such as a pressure cylinder, causes relative reciprocating movement between the die assembly and the molds, as by being connected to the molds, so that the molds are linearly advanced toward the die assembly so that the molds project through the openings in the die assembly and deform the material into a pair of cups. Heating means are associated with the apparatus for causing heating of the deformed material.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Michel Bloch Levy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:30
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/08; A; A41; A41C; A41C5/00; A41C5/005; B29C51/002; B29C51/004; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/48; B29L2031/4871; B29L2031/4885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
In an apparatus for at least partially forming a brassiere, comprising: a frame; first and second support means mounted on said frame and disposed in spaced but opposed relationship to one another; shaping means for simultaneously shaping the cups of a brassiere from a sheet of flexible material; said shaping means including a pair of identical cup-shaped male molds disposed adjacent one another, each said mold having a substantially conical outer surface adapted to engage and deform the material therearound so that the molds form a pair of cups in said material, said molds being movably supported on said first support means for permitting the spacing between said molds to be selectively varied; said shaping means further including die means defining therein a pair of adjacent circular openings which extend through said die means and are disposed in substantial alignment with said molds, said die means being removably mounted on said second support means; clamping means for releasably holding a sheet of flexible material between said molds and said die means with said sheet being disposed directly adjacent said die means and extending across the openings thereof; said shaping means also including heating means associated therewith for heating said flexible material as deformed by said molds; and drive means drivingly connected to one of said support means for causing reciprocating movement thereof between two end positions in a direction toward and away from the other of said support means, said one support means when in one of said end positions resulting in said molds being completely withdrawn from said openings and spaced from said die means, and said one support means when in the other of said end positions resulting in said molds projecting through said openings so as to deform the flexible material extending thereacross.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
In an apparatus for at least partially forming a brassiere, comprising: a frame; first and second support means mounted on said frame and disposed in spaced but opposed relationship to one another; shaping means for simultaneously shaping the cups of a brassiere from a sheet of flexible material; said shaping means including a pair of identical cup-shaped male molds disposed adjacent one another, each said mold having a substantially conical outer surface adapted to engage and deform the material therearound so that the molds form a pair of cups in said material, said molds being movably supported on said first support means for permitting the spacing between said molds to be selectively varied; said shaping means further including die means defining therein a pair of adjacent circular openings which extend through said die means and are disposed in substantial alignment with said molds, said die means being removably mounted on said second support means; clamping means for releasably holding a sheet of flexible material between said molds and said die means with said sheet being disposed directly adjacent said die means and extending across the openings thereof; said shaping means also including heating means associated therewith for heating said flexible material as deformed by said molds; and drive means drivingly connected to one of said support means for causing reciprocating movement thereof between two end positions in a direction toward and away from the other of said support means, said one support means when in one of said end positions resulting in said molds being completely withdrawn from said openings and spaced from said die means, and said one support means when in the other of said end positions resulting in said molds projecting through said openings so as to deform the flexible material extending thereacross.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first support means includes a pair of substantially parallel and spaced support elements, and said pair of molds being disposed between and slidably supported on said support elements so that the molds can be slidably displaced in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of said support elements for selectively changing the spacing between said molds, and said support elements adjacent at least one end thereof being separated so that the molds can be totally slidably removed from the support elements and replaced by similar molds of a different size.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said die means includes a pair of rings positioned adjacent one another in side-by-side relationship, said rings each having one of said openings extending therethrough, said rings being slidably supported on said second support means so as to permit the spacing between said rings to be selectively varied consistent with the spacing between said molds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second support means includes a pair of elongated support members disposed in spaced and parallel relationship, said pair of rings being positioned between and slidably supported on said support members, and said support members adjacent at least one end thereof being totally spaced apart so that said rings can be completely slidably removed from said support elements and replaced by rings having different diameter openings therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first support means is disposed above said second support means and is supported for vertical movement relative to said frame, and said drive means being interconnected to said first support means for causing linear vertical reciprocating movement of said first support means so that said molds can be moved downwardly so as to project through the openings formed in said rings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said clamping means are mounted on said second support means for maintaining said sheet of flexible material in a position where it is positioned directly above said rings and extends across the openings therein, and wherein said heating means includes an electrical resistance heater mounted on each of said molds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
186 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first support means is disposed above said second support means and is mounted on said frame means for vertical reciprocating movement toward and away from said second support means, said first support means including a first substantially horizontally extending support plate and a plurality of substantially vertical columns fixed to said support plate and projecting downwardly therefrom, and said first support means also including a pair of horizontally elongated guiding elements fixed to the lower ends of said columns and disposed in parallel but spaced relationship, and said molds each having a cylindrical base portion adjacent the upper end of the mold and a male molding part fixed to the base portion and projecting downwardly therefrom, the cylindrical base portion of each mold having a pair of slots formed in diametrically opposite sides thereof into which project said guiding elements whereby said molds are slidably supported on said guiding elements and can be relatively slidably displaced toward or away from one another in a horizontal direction which is substantially parallel to the elongated direction of said guiding elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said drive means includes fluid pressure cylinder means connected to said support plate for linearly reciprocating same.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said die means includes a pair of separate but identical ring members each having one of said circular openings extending therethrough, said ring members being individually slidably supported on said second support means so that the spacing between said ring members can be individually varied, and said second support means permitting said ring members to be completely slidably removed therefrom so as to permit further ring members having different diameter openings therethrough to be mounted on said second support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second support means includes a pair of horizontally elongated guiding elements disposed in spaced but parallel relationship within a substantially horizontal plane, said ring members being disposed between and slidably supported on said guiding elements so that each ring member can be individually slidably displaced in the longitudinal direction of the guiding elements.
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) | 1979-09-21 | 1980-03-22 | 1980-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-21 | 1984-03-22 | 1984-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-21 | 1988-03-22 | 1988-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |