Patent US4459704A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4459704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming cloth into three-dimensional shapes and the articles produced by that method
Assignee: APPAREL FORM Co
•
Filing: 1982-07-06
•
Granted: 1984-07-17
•
Expires: 2002-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A novel process is disclosed in which garments and other cloth items are formed into their predetermined three dimensional shapes. Unfinished cloth is used to construct a shell which is then completely finished while maintained in the shape of the final product on a mold. The invention is also directed to the products obtained from the novel process and to the one-piece pattern used in the manufacture of pant garments in accord with the process of the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 I. Weir Sears
- 👤 John E. Hostetler
- 👤 William H. Hulsebusch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:22
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D1/00; A41D1/06; A41H; A41H43/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over an expandable mold having a contour corresponding to the contour of said predetermined three-dimensional shape; (c) expanding said mold sufficient to place the preformed cloth shell in tension; (d) treating the cloth shell while on said expanded mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; (e) retracting said mold; and (f) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over an expandable mold having a contour corresponding to the contour of said predetermined three-dimensional shape; (c) expanding said mold sufficient to place the preformed cloth shell in tension; (d) treating the cloth shell while on said expanded mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; (e) retracting said mold; and (f) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cloth forming method of claim 1 wherein said cloth is woven.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The cloth forming method set forth in claim 1 wherein said treating step includes heating the cloth shell to a temperature above the cloth heat-set threshold and cooling the shell to a temperature below the cloth heat set temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cloth forming method set forth in claim 3 wherein said heat is supplied by placing said mold having said shell stretched thereover in an oven.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cloth forming method set forth in claim 4 wherein said mold is perforated to facilitate heating of the cloth shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cloth forming method set forth in claim 1 wherein said treating step includes subjecting the cloth shell to chemical cross-linking agents.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cloth forming method set forth in claim 1 wherein said treating step includes subjecting the cloth shell to chemical swelling agents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cloth forming method set forth in claim 1 wherein said cloth is woven wool and said treating step is accomplished by crabbing the cloth shell.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of forming cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over a mold having a size relative to the size of the preformed shell sufficient to place the entirety of the cloth shell in generally uniform tension; (c) treating the cloth shell while on said mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; and (d) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of forming cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over a mold having a size relative to the size of the preformed shell sufficient to place the entirety of the cloth shell in generally uniform tension; (c) treating the cloth shell while on said mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; and (d) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of forming polyester cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished polyester cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over an expandable mold having a contour corresponding to the contour of said predetermined three-dimensional shape; (c) expanding said mold sufficient to place the preformed cloth shell in generally uniform circumferential tension; (d) tentering the cloth shell while on said expanded mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; (e) retracting said mold; and (f) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of forming polyester cloth into a predetermined three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a preformed shell of unfinished polyester cloth; (b) placing said preformed shell over an expandable mold having a contour corresponding to the contour of said predetermined three-dimensional shape; (c) expanding said mold sufficient to place the preformed cloth shell in generally uniform circumferential tension; (d) tentering the cloth shell while on said expanded mold so that said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; (e) retracting said mold; and (f) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cloth forming method of claim 10 wherein said polyester cloth is woven.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The cloth forming method of claim 1 wherein said cloth shell has a shape which approximates that of said mold and wherein said cloth shell is equal to or slightly larger than the unexpanded mold but smaller than the expanded mold, thereby placing the entirety of said cloth shell in generally uniform tension upon expansion of the mold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cloth forming method of claim 1 wherein the cloth is formed into a garment and wherein said preformed shell includes any fittings and stitching required to complete the garment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
9 words
A garment produced by the method of claim 1.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of forming cloth into a three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) pretreating an unfinished cloth by heating said cloth to a temperature within about 75 degrees F. but below its heat setting temperature while maintaining said cloth in tension in the warp direction and without tension in the fill direction; (b) constructing a shell of predetermined configuration from said pretreated cloth; (c) placing said shell over a mold having a size and configuration relative to the size and configuration of the shell to place the entirety of the cloth shell in generally uniform tension; (d) treating the cloth shell while on said mold so that the cloth is set and said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; and (e) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of forming cloth into a three-dimensional shape comprising the steps of: (a) pretreating an unfinished cloth by heating said cloth to a temperature within about 75 degrees F. but below its heat setting temperature while maintaining said cloth in tension in the warp direction and without tension in the fill direction; (b) constructing a shell of predetermined configuration from said pretreated cloth; (c) placing said shell over a mold having a size and configuration relative to the size and configuration of the shell to place the entirety of the cloth shell in generally uniform tension; (d) treating the cloth shell while on said mold so that the cloth is set and said shell will retain the predetermined three-dimensional shape after removal from said mold; and (e) removing the treated cloth shell from said mold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2603390A
Cited
US156900A
Cited
US373379A
Cited
US612281A
Cited
US139283A
Cited
US1722697A
Cited
US1981949A
Cited
US2247348A
Cited
US2022210A
Cited
US2080823A
Cited
US2180939A
Cited
US2616084A
Cited
US2907074A
Cited
US2986777A
Cited
US2995781A
Cited
US2956714A
Cited
US3181749A
Cited
US3239586A
Cited
US3331906A
Cited
US3558760A
Cited
US3535418A
Cited
US3473707A
Cited
US3477621A
Cited
US3646646A
Cited
US3472434A
Cited
US3655858A
Cited
US3550820A
Cited
US3556361A
Cited
US3763499A
Cited
US3673611A
Cited
US3751778A
Cited
US3819638A
Cited
US3892342A
Cited
US3868214A
Cited
US3918876A
Cited
US4103363A
Cited
US4171076A
Cited
US4199089A
Cited
US4247348A
Cited
US4247347A
Cited
US4264386A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-17 | 1988-01-16 | 1988-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-17 | 1992-01-16 | 1992-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-17 | 1996-01-16 | 1996-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |