Patent US4845790A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4845790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for altering fabric finishes
Assignee: GREENWOOD/EAST-WEST Inc A CORP OF SOUTH CAROLINA
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Filing: 1988-07-29
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2008-07-29
Abstract
Abstract Improved methods and apparatus are provided for altering fabric finishes on a garment to give the garment a "lived-in" or worn appearance before the garment is actually worn by the user. According to the method of the present invention, a batch of garments is preferably stone-washed to generally fade and abrade the entire garment. The garment is then inflated by passing air through an inlet port in the garment and by substantially sealing one or more exit ports in the garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within the garment. The inflated garment is then sprayed with a low-strength bleaching solution on selected exterior portions to provide an additional fading or worn appearance on those portions of the garment. Thereafter, the garment is placed in a neutralizing liquid to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution. A plurality of garments may be each suspended from a common air duct interconnected with a blower for providing air to inflate the garments. The garment is preferably rotatable with respect to the air duct so that the garment may be easily rotated by an operator to a selective position for the spraying operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitchell R. Brasington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:15
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06B; D06B11/00; D06B11/0093; D06B11/0096; D06C; D06C23/00; D06C5/00; D06C5/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of altering fabric finishes on a garment to create a worn appearance on the garment prior to the garment being worn by the user, the method comprising: (a) stone-washing the garment in a vessel containing a bleaching solution; (b) blowing air into an inlet port in the stone-washed garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within an interior chamber of the garment normally occupied by the user, so as to inflate the garment; (c) spraying a low-strength bleaching solution on selected exterior portions of the garment while the garment is being inflated with air; and (d) thereafter placing the sprayed garment in a neutralizing liquid to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of altering fabric finishes on a garment to create a worn appearance on the garment prior to the garment being worn by the user, the method comprising: (a) stone-washing the garment in a vessel containing a bleaching solution; (b) blowing air into an inlet port in the stone-washed garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within an interior chamber of the garment normally occupied by the user, so as to inflate the garment; (c) spraying a low-strength bleaching solution on selected exterior portions of the garment while the garment is being inflated with air; and (d) thereafter placing the sprayed garment in a neutralizing liquid to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: substantially sealing one or more exit ports in the garment through which inflation air is discharged to increase the pressure in the inflated garment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the garment is positioned during step (b) such that the inlet port is positioned vertically above each of the one or more exit ports; and the garment is suspended during s teps (b) and (c) at location substantially adjacent the inlet port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the inlet port is the waist of a pair of jeans, and the one or more exit ports are each a leg end of the pair of jeans.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises: agitating the garment in a liquid bath containing the bleaching solution and an abrasive material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the low-strength bleaching solution is a potassium permanganate solution having a concentration of from 10 to 40 grams of potassium permanganate per gallon of water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the neutralizing solution is sodium metabisulfate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: suspending the garment from a swivel such that the garment can be rotated during step (c).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 8, wherein air is discharged through the swivel and into the inlet port of the garment.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of altering fabric finishes on a garment to create a worn appearance on the garment prior to the garment being worn by the user, the method comprising: (a) washing the garment to generally fade the garment; (b) blowing gas into an inlet port in the washed garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within an interior chamber of the garment normally occupied by the user, so as to inflate the garment; (c) spraying a bleaching solution on selected exterior portions of the garment while being inflated with gas; and (d) thereafter applying a neutralizing liquid to the exterior portions of the garment to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of altering fabric finishes on a garment to create a worn appearance on the garment prior to the garment being worn by the user, the method comprising: (a) washing the garment to generally fade the garment; (b) blowing gas into an inlet port in the washed garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within an interior chamber of the garment normally occupied by the user, so as to inflate the garment; (c) spraying a bleaching solution on selected exterior portions of the garment while being inflated with gas; and (d) thereafter applying a neutralizing liquid to the exterior portions of the garment to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising: substantially sealing one or more exit ports in the garment through which inflation gas is discharged to increase the pressure in the inflated garment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the garment is positioned during step (b) such that the inlet port is positioned vertically above each of the one or more exit ports; and the garment is suspended during steps (b) and (c) at a location substantially adjacent the inlet port.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 10, wherein step (a) comprises: agitating the garment in a liquid bath containing a bleaching solution and an abrasive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the sprayed bleaching solution is a potassium permanganate solution having a concentration of from 10 to 40 grams of potassium permanganate per gallon of water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising: suspending the garment from a swivel such that the garment can be rotated during step (c); and gas is discharged through the swivel and into the inlet port of the garment during step (b).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for altering fabric finishes on a garment to create a worn appearance on the garment prior to the garment being worn by the user, the apparatus comprising: washing means for washing the garment in a vessel containing a bleaching solution to generally fade the garment: blower means for blowing air into an inlet port in the washed garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within an interior chamber of the garment normally occupied by the user, so as to inflate the garment: sprayer means for spraying a low-strength bleaching solution on selected exterior portions of the garment while being inflated with air; and applicator means for applying a neutralizing liquid to the selected exterior portions of the garment to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for altering fabric finishes on a garment to create a worn appearance on the garment prior to the garment being worn by the user, the apparatus comprising: washing means for washing the garment in a vessel containing a bleaching solution to generally fade the garment: blower means for blowing air into an inlet port in the washed garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within an interior chamber of the garment normally occupied by the user, so as to inflate the garment: sprayer means for spraying a low-strength bleaching solution on selected exterior portions of the garment while being inflated with air; and applicator means for applying a neutralizing liquid to the selected exterior portions of the garment to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising: sealing means for substantially sealing one or more exit ports in the garment through which inflation air is discharged to increase the pressure in the inflated garment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the low-strength bleaching solution is a potassium permanganate solution having a concentration of from 10 to 40 grams of potassium permanganate per gallon of water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising: swivel means for suspending the garment at a location adjacent the inlet port such that the garment may be rotated as the low-strength bleaching solution is sprayed on the selected exterior portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the swivel means has a through passageway for transmitting air from the blower means to the inlet port of the garment.
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) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |