EP0995362A1

EP0995362A1 - Elastic band for underwear

Info

Publication number: EP0995362A1
Application number: EP98830633A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ernesto Gallinotti; Gianni Trombin
Original assignee: MICHELE LETIZIA SpA
Current assignee: MICHELE LETIZIA SpA
Priority date: 1998-10-22
Filing date: 1998-10-22
Publication date: 2000-04-26

Abstract

An elastic band obtained by continuous weaving consists of an alternation of single segments (1) and double segments where the band splits into two parallel strips (2, 2') which then unite again in the following single segment (1). This band when used in the assembly of clothing items, particularly underwear, allows to reduce the number of members and therefore the number of seams, resulting in time and labour savings and greater structural continuity of the item.

Description

The present invention relates to the bands used in the clothing industry, and in particular to an elastic band used in the manufacturing of underwear. Reference will specifically be made hereafter to this kid of application, but it is clear that the band according to the present invention can be advantageously used also in the manufacturing of any other clothing item including an elastic band, e.g. a sportswear item or casual item.
It is known that in the manufacturing of underwear various types of elastic bands are used in different applications such as shoulder-straps for brassieres, waist-bands for panties, etc. These elastic bands are made by continuous weaving and may be different in width, thickness, color, texture, elasticity and so on, and they may have a structure with a solid or hollow cross-section, i.e. a tubular shape.
Since they are made as continuous bands, in order to be used for assembling the items they are cut into pieces of proper length according to the needs, e.g. according to the size and/or model of the item to be assembled.
A drawback which often occurs is that two or more pieces cut from a same band, or even from bands of different types, have to be joined in the assembly, typically by sewing. It is clear that said operation involves an increase in labour and a longer processing time in the item assembly, both for cutting several pieces of band and for subsequently sewing them together.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a band suitable to at least significantly reduce the above-mentioned drawback.
This object is achieved by means of a continuous elastic band consisting of an alternation of single segments and split segments as defined in claim 1. Other advantageous features are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The main advantage of the band according to the invention is that it allows the assembly of items with a smaller number of pieces, which results in significant savings in time and labour.
Another significant advantage of the present band is that it provides a greater structural continuity to the item, by decreasing the number of seams which reduce the overall elasticity.
A further advantage of this band is that it can be easily manufactured according to particular modules, adapted to the specific needs of the user according to the item where it will be used.
These and other advantages and characteristics of the elastic band according to the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Fig.1 is a schematic side view showing a portion of a continuous band according to the invention;
Fig.2 is a schematic perspective view showing a first application of the above-cited band compared with a prior art solution;
Fig.3 is a view similar to the preceding one and showing a second application of the above-cited band; and
Fig.4 is a view similar to the preceding one and showing a third application of the above-cited band.
With reference to fig. 1, there is seen that the elastic band according to the present invention consists of a continuous alternation of single segments 1 and "split" segments, where the band splits into two parallel strips 2, 2' which then unite again into the following single segment 1. Since the elastic band is made by continuous weaving, there is no discontinuity between the single segments 1 and the double segments 2, 2', which can be alternated according to any desired module.
In other words, while the band depicted in fig.1 has singe segments 1 and double segments 2, 2' of similar length, actually it is possible to make the band as an alternation of segments of very different length. Also the elasticity of the single segments 1 can be different from that of the double segments 2, 2', as well as the texture and the color obviously. It should also be noted that the singe segments 1 can have a solid or hollow cross-section. i.e. a tubular structure, possibly having both types of cross-section in a same band (whereby some single segments 1 are solid and some single segments 1 are hollow).
A first application of this new type of band is shown in fig.2, which illustrates a brassiere whose half on the left has a conventional structure whereas the half on the right has a novel structure obtained with said band.
As seen in this figure, the conventional structure includes a cup 3 to which an inner upper border 4 and an outer upper border 5 are sewn. The two upper borders 4, 5 are also sewn together at the top of the cup 3 where also a ring 6 is sewn to which the shoulder-strap 7 is secured. Therefore, this structure includes five members (cup, two borders, ring and shoulder-strap) and five seams: a) the cup to the inner border; b) the cup to the outer border; c) the two borders together; d) the two borders to the ring; e) the shoulder-strap to the ring. It is therefore apparent that the assembly is complicated and labour-intensive, in addition to the drawback caused by the structural discontinuity at the ring 6. This can result in a poor support of the breast in some positions taken by the wearer.
Brassieres are also known where the ring 6 is not present but there is continuity between the shoulder-strap 7 and the outer border 5. However, also this type of structure includes a separate inner border 4, and furthermore the above-cited continuity is achieved by folding and sewing a narrow strip of fabric. Such a seam implies a lower elasticity, a complicated processing and also a possible inconvenience for the wearer in the long time when the brassiere is worn.
In the right half of fig.2 there is illustrated the structure which can be obtained by using the novel band of the present invention. In this case, the shoulder-strap 8 consists of a long single segment 1 which than splits into two shorter strips 2, 2' which make up the borders 9 and 10. As a result, the members decrease to two, namely the cup and the piece of band forming the shoulder-strap and the borders, and also the seams required are just two, namely between the cup and the two borders.
It is therefore clear that such a structure is simpler and thus cheaper to be manufactured, while also being more comfortable and more effective as to breast support in any position. Even compared with the above-mentioned continuous solution with the sewn strip, there is still a simpler processing as well as a more comfortable and elastic structure.
As mentioned above, in this case the module of the continuous band used in the assembly of this item consists of a long single segment for the shoulder-strap and a shorter double segment for the two borders. The single segment (i.e. the shoulder-strap 8) may have either a solid or hollow cross-section, in the latter case it being also possible to introduce into the shoulder-strap 8 a thin elastic sheet which contributes to the breast support through a pulling action.
Figure 3 shows a second application of the present band which is slightly different from the above-described application in that it refers to a different model of brassiere. While in the above-described case the shoulder-strap 8 is joined at the rear to a simple band 11 for the fastening on the back, a rear "tail" is provided in the model of fig.3. In this model the shoulder-strap 12 is therefore split at the rear end into a border 13, extending under the armpit and towards the cup, and a border 14 converging with the lower band 15 towards the fastening buckle 16 on the back.
Therefore, in this case the band module will include not only a single segment for the shoulder-strap 12 and a double segment for the cup borders (not visible in fig.3) but also a further double segment at the other end of the shoulder-strap 12 for the two borders 13 and 14. In other words, in the brassiere of fig.2 the module consists of single segment + double segment, whereas in the brassiere of fig.3 the module consists of double segment + single segment + double segment. Moreover, in the latter case the rear double segment forming the borders 13, 14 is longer than the front double segment forming the cup borders.
A similar module consisting of single segment + double segment is used in the third application, shown in fig.4, relating to the manufacturing of a loin-cloth. This type of panties is in practice made up of a front triangle 17 with an elastic waist-band sewn along the top thereof, while a rear string 18 is sewn at the bottom vertex and joined to the elastic waist-band at the other end.
In this case, the single segment forms the string 18, while the two strips 19, 19' of the double segment unite at the front in order to form the elastic waist-band. As a result, even in such a simple structure the band according to the invention allows to get rid of the rear seam between the string and the waist-band.
It is obvious that if also the front triangle 17 has to be bordered like the cups 3 of the brassiere, the band module can include a further double segment at the front to form said borders of the triangle 17.
The band according to the invention can clearly be made according to multiple and/or more complicated modules, for example in another application (not shown in the figures) relating to the manufacturing of a suspender belt obtained with a module including double segment + single segment + double segment + single segment + double segment. In this case, the central double segment is longer and forms the elastic waist-band, while the end double segments are shorter and form the laces to which the stockings are attached, said laces being in turn joined to the waist-band through the intermediate single segments.
It is clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiments of the band according to the invention are just examples susceptible of various modifications. In particular, as previously mentioned, each segment either single or double can be made with specific features as to elasticity, length, texture, etc.

Claims

Elastic band obtained by continuous weaving characterized in that it consists of an alternation of single segments (1) and double segments where the band splits into two parallel strips (2, 2') which then unite again in the following single segment (1), without any discontinuity between said single segments (1) and said double segments (2, 2').
Elastic band according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more of the single segments (1) has a tubular structure, i.e. a hollow cross-section.
Elastic band according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the single segments (1) have an elasticity different from the double segments (2, 2').
Elastic band according to claim 3, characterized in that the single segments (1) have an elasticity lower than the double segments (2, 2').
Clothing item, particularly an underwear item, characterized in that it includes one or more pieces of an elastic band according to one or more of the preceding claims.