GB2452245A

GB2452245A - Clothing folding and packing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2452245A
Application number: GB0713295A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Smith; Wade Tang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-09
Filing date: 2007-07-09
Publication date: 2009-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-09
Also published as: GB2452245B; GB0713295D0

Abstract

A clothing packing apparatus for folding a clothing article, such as a shirt, comprising a spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material, having two adjacent portions: the first portion for overlaying the clothing article laid in a stretched-out open condition; and the second portion for overlaying the clothing article when the sleeves are folded onto the body of the clothing article in a stretched-out condition; wherein the first portion and the second portion is separated by a first fold line 212 comprising of a slit 204 and a line of perforations 205. The first portion includes a second fold line 207 which lies at an acute angle to the first fold line 212. The first portion may also comprise another overlapping fold line 208 and an opening 206. The second portion may have at least two further parallel fold lines 209,210,211, as well as having gripping surfaces 218, rounded or tapered edges, and preformed markings, and an outer casing for storage and transit.

Description

1 -2452245

CLOTHING PACKING APPARATUS

Field of Invention

The invention generally relates to a clothing packing apparatus consisting a first portion and a second S portion, more particularly, to a lightweight, simple to use, easy to produce, inexpensive to manufacture clothing packing apparatus to reduce and/or eliminate creases formed in a clothing article, such as a shirt.

Background of the Invention

Shirts are traditionally folded by the manufacturers with a rectangular piece of cardboard, with a tongue to support the shirt collar in an upright and circular condition, and used pins and/or clips at selected locations to fix the various parts of the shirt to their folded condition. The flanks of the body of the shirt are folded backward along the straight flank edges of the cardboard before the sleeves are folded and fixed to the back of the shirt. The lower portion of the body of the shirt is also folded and fixed to the back of the shirt, around the bottom straight edge of the cardboard, to complete the packing.

The folding method and packing devices, namely cardboard, pins and/or clips, used by the shirt manufacturers for folding shirts, although produce neatly folded shirts, they also produce sharp creases along the fold lines on the sleeves and the body of the shirts. The folding method and packing devices currently being used do not include means to prevent creases from forming in the sleeves and the body of the shirt.

Generally, individuals conventionally fold their shirts without any kind of packing or folding devices.

The packing devices supplied with each shirt are usually discarded once the packaging is opened. Traditionally, S shirts are commonly folded in one of two ways: i.) shirts are folded in the same way the manufacturers pack their shirts but without the cardboard and pins, i.e. to fold the flanks of the body of the shirt and the sleeves Onto the back of the shirt before folding the lower portion of the body of the shirt backward Onto the upper portion of the body of the shirt; or ii.) shirts are folded in half, backward or forward, along the spine of the body of the shirt before folding the overlapping sleeves onto the body of the shirt around the shoulder before folding the lower portion of the body of the shirt to sit on top of the upper portion of the body of the shirt.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a clothing packing apparatus that reduce and/or eliminate creases in clothing articles, such as shirts, when they are folded for storage or transit.

The application, reference no. 0617783.6, dated 8th September 2006, provide a clothing packing apparatus for folding a suit is not suitable. The structure of the shirt is significantly different: the shirt sleeves are positioned at a much larger angle away from the body of the shirt; the sleeves has a two-dimensional structure along its entire length; the structure of the shirt collar is more rigid, upright and smaller; the shoulder is tailored without shoulder pads; the body of the shirt is longer; both sleeves and body of the shirt are produced from a single layer of fabric; and the material used to make the shirts is thinner.

Summary of the Invent ion

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, simple to use, easy to produce, inexpensive to manufacture clothing packing apparatus for folding a clothing article, such as a shirt, of any size, to prevent creases from forming in the clothing article when it is folded for storage or transit.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of packing a clothing article, such as a shirt, capable of reducing and/or elir.iinating creases in the clothing article, particularly, for folding a part of the clothing article along a fold line across another part of the clothing article folded along and intersecting fold line.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a clothing packing apparatus for folding a clothing article, such as a shirt, of any size, having a body and two aligned sleeves, from a stretched-out open condition to a compact fold state.

The clothing packing apparatus comprising a spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material, having: a first portion that is locatable overlaying the upper body of the clothing article laid in a stretched-out open condition, wherein the first portion is configured to partially overlay two overlapping fold lines on the body of the clothing article, near the shoulders; and a second portion that is locatable overlaying the folded sleeves, on top of the body of the clothing article, laid in a stretched-out condition, wherein the second portion is configured to partially overlay at least two parallel fold lines on the body of the clothing article.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material has a slit and a line of perforations, formed on a single fold line that separates the first portion and second portion, wherein the slit is provides the mean to fold the sleeves with the first portion freely, discreetly and independently of the second portion and a degree of adjustment to angulate the sleeves onto the body, while the line of perforations is configured to remove the rebound strength in the crease-resistant flexible spacer material to allow the second portion to fold flatly and easily to face the first portion.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material has two overlapping fold lines on the first portion, of which, one is parallel to the parallel fold lines on the second portion, to enable the first portion and the second portion to folded together along a common fold line, when the second portion is overlaying the folded sleeves laid in a stretched-out condition on the body of the clothing article.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material has at least two parallel fold lines on the second portion for folding body, with the folded sleeves overlaying the body laid in a stretched-out conditjo.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material has rounded or tapered edges to minimise pressure compression markings when the folded clothing articles is Compressed in storage or transit.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material has pre-formed markings alongside the fold lines to provide improved visual effect for locating the fold lines to help ease and simplify the folding process.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material forms spacers having a Continuous curve, U-shaped in cross-section along the fold line, for parts of the clothing article to wrap around, to prevent creases from forming in the clothing article along the fold lines.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material has an opening, at least 40mm wide and 80mm long, centred about the intersection of the two overlapping fold lines on the first portion, for forming a narrow gap in the spacer separating parts of the sleeves facing the body, to enable the parts of the body to fold freely and easily across the spacer separating parts of the sleeves facing the body.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material is less than 1.5mm thick to minimise the bulk of clothing article in the folded state, minimise the weight, and ease the folding process.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material has gripping surfaces, to engage the clothing article to prevent the clothing article from slipping from the intended folded state.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material is formed of foam or rubber material, which has the desirable gripping surfaces property and thus removes the need for special treatments, which subsequently simplify production process and minimise manufacturing cost.

In an embodiment, the spacing layer of crease- resistant flexible spacer material forms an anti-collapsible structure when the clothing article is folded around the spacing layers, to prevent the folded clothing article from buckling and causing the clothing article to crease and wrinkle.

In an embodiment, the present invention has an outer casing for storing the folded clothing article in the folded state to protect the clothing article from soiling and to ease storage and transit.

In an embodiment, the outer casing is formed of sheet material, such as fabric, paper, plastic, metal or a combination of these materials, to suit different needs to maximise versatility of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of packing a clothing article, such as a shirt, to a compact folded state, about A4 size, is provided to simply, easily and quickly fold the clothing article, in which: a single spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material comprising: a first portion locatable overlaying the parts of the body of the clothing article laid in a stretched-out open condition; a second portion locatable overlaying the body of and the folded sleeves, overlaying the body, laid in a stretched-out condition, wherein: the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material forms a spacer separating parts of the clothing article that face each other when the clothing article is folded from a stretched-out open condition to a folded state; the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material is shaped to partially overlay fold lines in the clothing article to prevent creases from forming along the fold lines; on folding the sleeves and the first portion, the first portion angulates the sleeves, about the endpoint of the fold line, onto the body of the clothing article; and the body of the clothing article is folded section by section, from the upper portion of the body to the lower body of the clothing article.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by ways of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates the article of clothing to be packed with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3A to 3F illustrates the method of the packing a clothing article, such as a shirt, with the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates how the present invention is incorporated to an outer casing in the form of a zipped bag.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 shows a clothing article (101), such as a shirt, having two aligned sleeves (102), two aligned shoulders (104) and a body (103), laid in a stretched-out open condition, where the body is divided into 4 parts: the upper body (105), the central -upper body (106), the central-lower body (107), and the lower body (108).

The clothing article (101) is folded backward to align the two sleeves and to lay clothing article (101) in a stretched-out open condition to: remove the wrinkles in the clothing article (101) to prepare the clothing article (101) for packing; and create four fold lines on the body of the clothing article (101): the shoulder fold line (109); the upper fold line (110); the central fold line (ill); and the lower fold line (112), wherein, the upper fold line (110) is located below and clear of the collar (113) of the clothing article (lOi), runs perpendicular to the spine (115), across the body (103), intersecting the shoulder fold line (109) near the midpoint of the shoulder-sleeve seams (114); wherein, the shoulder fold line (109) lies across both the upper body (105) and central-upper body (106) of the clothing article (101) borders the shoulder-sleeve seams (114) at an angle approximately 25° to the spine (115) of the clothing article (101); wherein, the upper fold line (110) is parallel to both the central fold line (111) and the lower fold line (112).

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention of a clothing packing apparatus (201) for packing a clothing article (101), such as a shirt, comprising a spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material, suitable for folding the clothing article (101) of any size, from a stretched-out open conditions to a folded state.

The spacing layer crease-resistant flexible spacer material, comprising a first portion (202); a second portion (203); a slit (204); a line of perforations (205); an opening (206); six fold lines; first fold line (207), second fold line (208), third fold line (209), fourth fold line (210), fifth fold line (211), and separation fold line (212); rounded or tapered edges (213); pre-formed markings (214); and gripping surfaces.

The 8ljt (204) and the line of perforations (205) are arranged to lie on the separation fold line (212), to separate the first portion (202) and the second portion (203), wherein: the slit (204) is provided to enable the first portion (202) to fold with the sleeves (202) freely, discreetly and independent of the second portion (203), as well as a degree of adjustment for the sleeves (102) to be angulateci, about the endpoint (116) of the shoulder fold line (109), to folded and laid the sleeves (102) onto the body (103) in a stretched-out condition; and the line of perforations (205) is configured to enable the second portion (203) to fold flatly with the -10 -first portion (202), when overlaying the second portion (203) on the folded sleeves (102) and the body (103).

Additionally, the second portion (203) is divided into four parts: upper area (213), central-upper area (214), central-lower area (215), and lower area (216), to fold the body a part at a time.

Furthermore, the opening (206), centred about the intersection of the overlapping first fold line (207) and second fold line (208), is configured to create a narrow gap in the spacer separating part of the sleeves (102) facing the body, formed when the sleeves (102) are folded with the first portion (202), to enable the upper body (105) to fold around the second fold line (208), while minimising the creases from forming near the intersection of the shoulder fold line (109) and the upper fold line (105) in the clothing article (101), and along the shoulder fold lines (109).

And while the gripping surfaces of the spacer material helps to engage the clothing article (101) to prevent the folded parts from slipping from theIr folded positions, the rounded or tapered edges (217) are incorporated to reduce or eliminate pressure impression from forming on the clothing article (101) when the folded clothing article (101) is compressed in storage or transit.

Pre-formed marking (218), alongside the fold lines, may also be provided to enhance the visibility of the locations and positions of the various fold lines.

The preferred flexible spacer material is formed of foam or rubber-based material.

-11 -The preferred foam is an odourless closed-cell Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) foam that has a rubberised surface finish, having a three layer construction with central fabric layer to improve tearing strength to S enhance the durability of the apparatus (201) with a total thickness of less than 1.5mm, a Shore C Hardness range of 5-28, density range of 0.1-0.2 g/crn3, tensile strength greater than 2 kgf/cm2, tensile elongation greater than 150%, tear strength greater than 1 kgf/crn2, compression set greater than 95%, rebound greater than 60%, and shrinkages less than 10%.

The preferred rubber-based material is silicone rubber with a Shore A Hardness of around 25�5.

Figure 3A to 3F shows step-by-step how the preferred embodiment of clothing packing apparatus (201) is used to fold a clothing article (101), such as a shirt, of any size, from a stretched-out open condition to the folded state simply and quickly.

As shown in Figure 3A, the first portion (202) of the apparatus (201) is partially overlaying the upper body (105) and central-upper body (106) of the clothing article (101) laid in a stretched-out open condition, with the first fold line (207) partially overlaying the shoulder fold line (109) and the upper fold line (110).

As shown in Figure 3B(i), the sleeves (102) are then freely and discreetly moved with the first portion (202), to fold the sleeves (102) at an angle to the spine (115) of the clothing article (101), along the shoulder fold line (109), onto the body (103) of the clothing article (101), in a stretched-out condition.

-12 -As shown in Figure 3B(ii), when the first portion (202) is folded along the first fold line (207) with the sleeves (102), the spacing layer forms a spacer (301) having a Continuous curve (302), U-shaped in cross-section, along the first fold line (207), to separate the part of the sleeves (102) facing the body (103) of clothing article (101), to stop creases from forming along the shoulder fold line (109) in the clothing article (101) The angle of the shoulder fold line (109) to which the sleeves (102) are folded is adjustable, angulated about the endpoint (116) of the shoulder fold line (109) when the sleeves (102) are folded with the first portion (202), to in turn laid the sleeves (102) entirely on the body (103) of the clothing article (101) in a stretched-out condition.

Furthermore, the clothing article (101) is engaged by the spacer (301) -the lower surface of the spacer (301) engaging the upper surface of the body (103) of the clothing article (101), the upper surface of the spacer (301) engaging the lower surface of the folded sleeves (102), and the surfaces of first portion (202) facing each other engaging itself -to secure the folded sleeves (102) to the folded state, to maintain the sleeves (102) laid in a stretched-out condition overlaying the body (103), to prevent creases from forming when they are folded with the second portion (203).

As shown in Figure 3C(i), the second portion (203) of the apparatus (201) is folded along the separation fold line (212) to overlay the folded sleeves (102) and the body (103) laid in a stretched-out condition.

-13 -The slit (204) formed along the separation fold line (212), on the one hand allowed the first portion (202) to freely and discreetly fold with the sleeves (102). On the other hand, it allows the second portion (203) to fold freely and discreetly, and independent of the first portion (202) when overlaying the second portion (203) on the stretched-out sleeves (102) and body (103), while the line of perforations (205) rids the rebound strength in the spacing layer (201) to enable the second portion (203) to fold easily and flatly when folded to face the first portion (202), when overlaying the folded sleeves (102) and the body (103) laid in a stretched-out condition.

In addition, as shown in Figure 3C (ii), when overlaying the second portion (203) over the folded sleeves (102) and the body (103) laid in a stretched-out condition, the third fold line (209) on the second portion (203) is involuntarily placed directly above the second fold line (208) in the first portion (202), which rests directly above the upper fold line (105) in the body (103), as well as aligned with the narrow gap formed with the opening (206) in the first portion (202) of the apparatus (201), centred about the intersection of the overlapping first fold line (207) and second fold line (208), when the first portion (202) is folded with the sleeves (102), to form a spacer to separate part of the folded sleeves (102) facing the body (103).

The narrow gap (303) formed in the spacer (301) separating the folded sleeves (102) facing the body (103), directly beneath the third fold line (209) in the second portion (203), on the one hand, partially break the rigid U-shaped cross-section structure (302), to allow the clothing article (101) and second portion (203) -14 -overlaying the upper body (105) and central-upper body (106), to fold easily with the spacer (301).

On the other hand, the narrow gap (303) in the spacer (301) provides the mean, a recess, for the spacing S layer (201) and part of the sleeve (102) overlaying the narrow gap (303), to enable the spacer (301) to fold around the spacer (304), formed when the upper body (105) is folded onto the central-upper area (214), to fold the clothing article to a compact folded state, about A4 size.

As shown in Figure 3D(i), the upper body (105) of the clothing article (101), part of the first portion (202), part of the folded sleeves (102) and the upper area (213) overlaying the upper body (105), are folded freely and discreetly along the third fold line (209) in the second portion (203) onto the central-upper area (214) As shown in Figure 3D(ii), a continuous curve (305), U-shape cross-section, along the third fold line (209), is formed, which is recessed into the narrow gap (303) when the spacer (301) overlaying the upper body (105) is folded over the spacer (304). The narrow gap (303) formed with the opening (206) in the first portion (202) when in the folded state ease the folding when folding the upper body (105) onto the central-upper body (106) and to reduce and/or eliminate creases from forming along the shoulder fold line (109) and the upper fold line (110) in the clothing article (101).

As shown in Figure 3D(ii), each folded parts of the clothing article (101) are engaged by the spacing layer of crease-resistant flexible spacer material: the sleeves (102) folded to face itself is engaged by the spacer (304), formed when the second portion (203) is folded -15 -along the third fold line (209), as well as the spacer (301), formed when the first portion (202) is folded along the first fold line (207), while the body (103) folded to face each other is engaged by part of the S spacer (301) overlaying the central-upper body (106).

As shown in Figure 3E(i), the upper body (105) and the central-upper body (106) are folded along the central fold line (111) to rest on the central-lower area (215), above the central-lower body (107).

As shown in Figure 3E(ii), another Continuous curve (306), U-shape crossed-section along the fourth fold line (210), to prevent creases from forming along the central fold line (111) in the clothing article (101). The spacing layer (203) central-lower area (215) is provide iS to engage the upper body (105), sleeves (102) and central-lower body (107).

As shown in Figure 3F (ii, to complete the process of folding the clothing article (101) from a stretched-out open condition to the folded state, the lower body (108) is folded freely and discreetly with the lower area (216) onto the central-upper body (106).

As shown in Figure 3F(ii), a Continuous curve (307), U-shaped cross-section along the fifth fold line (211), to prevent creases from forming along the lower fold line (112) in the clothing article (101).

As shown in Figure 3F(ii), a three-dimensional anti-collapsible structure is formed as each part of the body (103) is folded from the stretched-out open condition to the folded state.

As shown in Figure 4A and 4B, a simple outer casing is provided for housing the clothing article (101) in the -16 -folded state, folding with the apparatus (201), for storage or transit, by example -in the form of: as shown in Figure 4A, a soft bag (401), with a zip closure (402), fabricated from fabric, plastic, paper, or a combination of these materials; or as shown in Figure 4B, a rigid box (403), with a lid (404), constructed with paper, plastic, metal, wood, or a combination these materials.

Claims

Claims: 1. An apparatus for packing at least a piece of clothing article, said apparatus including: a first portion; a second portion joined with said first portion along a first fold line including a slit and a series of perforations; wherein said first portion is foldable onto said second portion about said first fold line; wherein said first portion has a second fold line which is inclined relative to said first fold line at an acute angle; and wherein a first part of said first portion is foldable onto a second part of said first portion about said second fold line. * .*
2. An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said first portion includes a third fold line **Sb which is substantially parallel to said first fold line. * :::
3. An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said third fold line allows a third part of said first portion to fold onto a fourth part of said first portion. * *

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4. An apparatus according to Claim I wherein said second portion includes at least a fourth fold line which is substantially parallel to said first fold line.
5. An apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said fourth fold line allows a fifth portion of said second portion to fold onto a sixth portion of said second portion.
6. An apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein said second portion includes a plurality of fold lines which are substantially parallel to each other and to said first fold line.
7. An apparatus according to Claim I wherein said first part of said first portion is adapted to overlay at least a sleeve of said clothing article to allow said sleeve to be folded onto a body portion of said clothing article about said second fold line.
8. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims further including rounded or tapered edges.
9. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims further including pre-formed markings.
10. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 9 further including at least one opening centered about the intersection of said second fold line and third fold line.
ii. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims further including gripping surfaces.
12. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said apparatus is made of foam or a rubber material. * **

*::f
13. A device for packing at least a piece of clothing article including a casing and an ** * apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.

*.. 15 *
14. A method of packing at least a piece of clothing article, including the steps of: (a) folding said piece of clothing article onto itself along its spine such that two sleeves * of said piece of clothing article overlay each other; *:1 (b) overlaying at least part of an apparatus for packing at least a piece of clothing article according to any of the preceding claims onto at least part of said clothing article; (c) folding said sleeves onto a body portion of said clothing article about said second fold line of said apparatus which is inclined relative to said spine of said clothing article at an angle; and (d) folding at least a first part of said body portion of said clothing article onto a second part of said body portion of said clothing article about said fourth fold line of said apparatus.
15. A method according to Claim 14 including a step (e) of housing the folded clothing article in a casing.
16. An apparatus for packing at least a piece of clothing article substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying Figures 2 to 4B. 1c1
17. A device for packing at least a piece of clothing article substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying Figures 4A to 4B.
18. A method of packing at least a piece of clothing article substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 4B. * ** S * * *i * S * S. I. S. S

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