GB2618977A

GB2618977A - A fabric folding device

Info

Publication number: GB2618977A
Application number: GB2201890.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jane Harris Nicola
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-02-14
Filing date: 2022-02-14
Publication date: 2023-11-29
Also published as: GB202201890D0

Abstract

A fabric folding device 99 comprising a holder 2 and a folder, where the folder extends from the holder and comprises two wings or flaps 1, each wing comprising a base wing section 11 joined by a hinge 13 to a top wing section 12, the wings having a bipartite inner face comprising a base part (7, figure 5a) on the base wing section and a top part (6, figure 5a) on the top wing section; the hinge enabling the sections to move from an open position where the parts of the inner face are substantially unparallel to a closed position where the parts of the inner face are substantially parallel; the folder connecting to the holder at an articulation arranged to allow the wings to move from a fabric receiving position where the wings are substantially unparallel to an operating position where the wings are substantially parallel. By following the process shown in figures 5a-c of opening out and then folding up the leaves, a user can fold a piece of fabric and feed it into a sewing machine (figure 6) to form a strap or tape.

Description

A FABRIC FOLDING DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fabric folding device, in particular a device for folding material such as fabric or similar; more particularly but not exclusively folding such material for sewing.

Background

Many people enjoy and/or work in sewing in many societies.

Some tasks can be problematic when sewing, for example creating a strap in some materials. Some straps or band or strips of materials or fabrics may require hemming 15 along their edges.

In order to achieve this, it is typical to fold the strap along a longitudinal axis and fold the longitudinal edges of the strap to create folded seams to prevent fraying Some users may sew a seam along the fold also to hold it flat.

In any event this longitudinal fold needs to be made and held, and the edges of the strap folded at similar distances from the fold in order for the strap to be effectively created. This can require ironing of the fold to create it and hold it in place.

It can be therefore problematic to fold the strap effectively, both to prepare it for the apparatus, and/or pass the fabric through the apparatus.

Prior Art

GB 2016 21 474 (HARRISON et al) discloses a tool for the forming of a strip of material comprising: a first forming surface defining a recess extending substantially in a first direction; and a second forming surface arranged to at least partially protrude into the recess; wherein at least a portion of the first forming surface is spaced apart from the second forming surface in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction such that an opening or channel for receiving the strip of material is defined therebetween.

CN 105 088 555 (TIAN) discloses a novel cloth double-edge-folding device comprising a double-edge-folding body. A fixing connecting member is arranged under the doubleedge-folding body. The double-edge-folding body comprises an inner connecting surface and an outer connecting surface. The front end of the outer connecting surface is provided with a folded edge and the front end of the inner connecting surface is provided with a U-shaped edge. The U-shaped edge and the outer connecting surface form a first edge-folding channel, and the folded edge and the U-shaped edge form a second edge-folding channel.

CN 203 715 884 (HUANG et al) discloses a joint strip folding hemmer of a sewing machine, comprising a fixing plate, a joint strip folding hemming plate and a folding plate, wherein the fixing plate and the joint strip folding hemming plate are connected; the joint strip folding hemming plate comprises a guide platform, a hemming outer plate and an inner baffle The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a fabric folding device comprising a holder and a folder, the folder extends from the holder and comprises two wings, each wing comprises a base wing section joined by a hinge to a top wing section, the wings have a bipartite inner face comprising a base part on the base wing section and a top part on the top wing section; the hinge enabling the sections to move from an open fabric receiving position, in which the parts of the inner face are substantially not parallel, to a closed position in which the parts of the inner face are substantially parallel; and the folder connects to the holder at an articulation, the articulation arranged to allow the wings to move from the fabric receiving position to a fabric folding position.

In this way the device may be envisaged to be used for folding straps for use with a sewing machine or similar apparatus, wherein the device folds the fabric and holds the 35 folded fabric whilst it is fed through a sewing process on the apparatus.

Advantageously the device in the fabric folding position enables a user to easily fold the fabric strap and also hold it securely and in a folded formation, even whilst the apparatus pulls the folded fabric through the apparatus.

In this way the device may be used for folding elongate straps of material such as fabric or cotton webbing, wherein the straps may be defined to extend along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the hinge between the sections is used in folding the longitudinal edges of the strap inwards to form longitudinal side seams along this axis, and wherein a central fold is formed at or near the articulation when the wings are in the operating position. This allows sewing apparatus to sew the folded seams together so as to produce a folded strap with a sharp fold crease down one edge and a seamed opposed edge.

In some embodiments the holder is an elongated part, with the folder arranged to 15 extend from a longitudinal side. In this way the holder is advantageously well suited to holding in a hand, following the axis of the strap in use as it is fed through the sewing apparatus.

In some embodiments the wings are formed by elongate sections extending along the longitudinal side of the holder. The base sections are closest to the holder, extending from the longitudinal side of the holder. The hinge between the base sections and top sections is parallel the holder longitudinal side, and the top sections are the distal side of the hinges.

In some embodiments the sections are rectangular. In this way the inner faces may be enabled to effectively fold elongate straps of fabric or similar material. The inner faces may be envisaged to be flat plates.

In some embodiments the articulation is provided by a longitudinal slot in the holder 30 and in some such embodiments the slot is wider than the depth of the wing sections, such that the wing sections may be enabled to splay open without interference at the articulation or deformation of the inner faces.

In some embodiments the articulation is provided by at least one longitudinal hinge. In 35 other embodiments it may be envisaged that the articulation is formed by hinges between the base section and the holder, on both wings.

In some embodiments the inner face includes PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). The inner face for example may include a PTFE coating, so as to aid sliding of the fabric. The wing sections alternatively may be formed in PTFE.

In some embodiments the wings have high friction outer faces at least in part. For example one or both of the wings may have a rubber or silicone covering or coating, which coating or covering may provide added friction in order to limit sliding of the device on a surface when in use, when the apparatus urges the device to move axially.

In some embodiments the device may comprise displaceable wings, displaceable from the holder so as to allow use of wings of different widths. It may be envisaged that the wings are dimensioned to receive folded standard strap sizes in the fabric receiving position, with seamed edges, and in some embodiments it may be desirable for the user to utilise a single holder with different holders.

In some embodiments comprising lock means to lock the wings in the operating position. For example the lock means may comprise a displaceable clip, resilient deformation, or a means to displace the folder into the holder for example with a moveable articulation, so as to lock the wing sections in a substantially parallel configuration.

In some embodiments the folder comprises living hinges, for example namely at the articulation and between the wing sections.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, in the fabric folding position; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device 5 shown in Figure 1 Figure 5 shows side views of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, in stages of use, moving from the fabric receiving position to the fabric folding position respectively; And Figure 6 shows an isometric sketch view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1 in use in the fabric folding position with a strap and a sewing machine 15 apparatus.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a fabric folding device 99 generally comprising a holder 2 and a folder 10: which folder extends from the holder and comprises two wings 1, each wing comprising a base wing section 11 joined by a hinge 13 to a top wing section 12, the wings having a bipartite inner face comprising a base part 7 on the base wing section 11 and a top part 6 on the top wing section 12; the hinge 13 enabling the sections to move from an open position (as shown in Figure 5a) where the parts of the inner face are substantially unparallel to a closed position (as shown in Figure 1) where the parts of the inner face are substantially parallel; the folder 1 connecting to the holder 2 at a articulation 22 arranged to allow the wings 1 to move from a fabric receiving position (as shown in Figure 5a) where the wings are substantially unparallel to an operating position (as shown in Figure 1) where the wings are substantially parallel.

The device is used for folding elongate straps 200 of material such as fabric or cotton webbing, wherein the straps may be defined to have a longitudinal axis A, and wherein the hinge 13 between the sections is used in folding the longitudinal edges of the strap 35 200 inwards to form longitudinal seams.

A central fold in the fabric is formed at or near the articulation when the wings are in the operating position, so the user can sew the strap on a sewing apparatus 100 as the fabric is pulled by the sewing apparatus along the axis A, so as to sew either along the fold or in line with the folded edges held in the device (as shown in Figure 6).

The holder 2 is formed from a rigid synthetic plastics material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or similar.

The holder is substantially flat and planar, extending away from the folder so as to 10 provide a means of holding the fabric when it is received within the wings for folding, wherein the folder extends from a longitudinal side of the holder in use.

Where the folder extends from and connects to the holder is defined as an articulation 22. Such articulation enables the wings to open into the receiving position, and to close into the operating position. In the pictured embodiment the articulation is provided by two longitudinal hinges (as shown in Figures 5) connecting the base section 11 of the wings to the holder 2. In other embodiments the articulation may be provided by a slot, for example where the base sections are trapped in the slot, and/or the slot is wider than the depth of material of the base sections, enabling splaying of the sections in the slot.

The wings may be envisaged to be formed in PTFE or coated therein, in particular in reference to the inner face, such that the fabric can easily slide through the device in use.

The top wing sections 12 and base wing sections 11 are rectangular and elongated, and the hinge 13 is parallel one of the longitudinal sides of the substantially rectangular holder.

The hinges 13 are living hinges formed by scoring dividing the sections, and the articulation 22 likewise.

In the pictured embodiment one outer face of a base section provides a rubber covering 14, which covering is used to provide friction to the device when in use, so as to prevent 35 the device moving with the fabric.

In the pictured embodiment the holder includes elevated perimetric lips 21, which lips provide a means for users to limit axial sliding of the device during use.

The outer face of one of the base sections 11 of one of the wings 1 provides a 5 measurement indication gauge so as to establish preferred strap width for folding.

The holder includes a radiused longitudinal side distal the articulation, so as to aid in comfortable and secure holding of the embodiment.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.A fabric folding device comprising a holder and a folder, the folder extends from the holder and comprises two wings, each wing comprises a base wing section joined by a hinge to a top wing section, the wings have a bipartite inner face comprising a base part on the base wing section and a top part on the top wing section; the hinge enabling the sections to move from an open fabric receiving position, in which the parts of the inner face are substantially not parallel, to a closed position in which the parts of the inner face are substantially parallel; and the folder connects to the holder at an articulation, the articulation arranged to allow the wings to move from the fabric receiving position to a fabric folding position.
A folding device according to claim 1 wherein the holder is an elongated part, with the folder arranged to extend from a longitudinal side.
A folding device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the wings are formed by elongate sections extending along the longitudinal side of the holder.
A folding device according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the base section and wing section are rectangular.
A folding device according to any preceding claim wherein the articulation comprises a longitudinal slot in the holder.
A folding device according to claim 5 wherein the slot width is wider than the depth of the wing sections such that the wing sections are enabled to move laterally in the slot.
A folding device according to any preceding claims wherein the folder is displaceable from the holder.
A folding device according to any preceding claim wherein the articulation is provided by at least one longitudinal hinge.
A folding device according to any preceding claim wherein the base wing and top wing have low friction inner faces.
10. A folding device according to claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the inner face includes FIFE coating.
11. A folding device according to any preceding claim wherein at least a portion of outer surfaces of the base and top wings have a high friction coating.
12. A folding device according to any preceding claim wherein the base sections and top sections of the wings are dimensioned to receive folded standard strap sizes with seamed edges.
13. A folding device according to any preceding claim comprising displaceable wings of different widths.
14. A folding device according to any preceding claim comprising lock means to lock the wings in a deployed position.
15. A folding device according to any preceding claim comprising living hinges.