GB2620934A - Method of forming a structural support for a garment - Google Patents
Method of forming a structural support for a garment Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2620934A GB2620934A GB2210860.9A GB202210860A GB2620934A GB 2620934 A GB2620934 A GB 2620934A GB 202210860 A GB202210860 A GB 202210860A GB 2620934 A GB2620934 A GB 2620934A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- structural support
- support member
- textile panel
- jig
- adhesive
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 51
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 135
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 64
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 64
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 2
- QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M Acetate Chemical compound CC([O-])=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 206010050031 Muscle strain Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 240000007643 Phytolacca americana Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004809 Teflon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000000481 breast Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004945 silicone rubber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41C—CORSETS; BRASSIERES
- A41C5/00—Machines, appliances, or methods for manufacturing corsets or brassieres
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41C—CORSETS; BRASSIERES
- A41C3/00—Brassieres
- A41C3/12—Component parts
- A41C3/122—Stay means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B15/00—Details of, or accessories for, presses; Auxiliary measures in connection with pressing
- B30B15/06—Platens or press rams
- B30B15/062—Press plates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B15/00—Details of, or accessories for, presses; Auxiliary measures in connection with pressing
- B30B15/06—Platens or press rams
- B30B15/062—Press plates
- B30B15/064—Press plates with heating or cooling means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B15/00—Details of, or accessories for, presses; Auxiliary measures in connection with pressing
- B30B15/02—Dies; Inserts therefor; Mounting thereof; Moulds
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A method of forming a structural support for a garment, the structural support comprising a textile panel 40 and a structural support member 22, the method comprising: using a jig 20 to position the structural support member in a predetermined configuration, placing the textile panel at a predetermined position upon the structural support member, wherein an adhesive element 32 is disposed at an interface between the textile panel and the structural support member when the textile panel is in the predetermined position, and applying pressure A to the textile panel and structural support member to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the structural support member. The structural support may be biased towards a certain configuration 30 and then deformed within the jig 22 to a desired configuration (fig 4). Also claimed is the manufacturing apparatus to perform such a method. The support may form a support for the bottom of a bra cup to take the place of a bra wire. Different jigs may be provided which have different configurations for different cup sizes.
Description
METHOD OF FORMING A SIRUCTURAL SUPPORT FOR A GARMENT
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of forming a structural support for a garment, to a garment obtainable or obtained from a fabrication method comprising the method, and to an apparatus for use in forming a structural support for a garment
Background
A variety of garments require, or benefit from, structural support. For example, many brassieres include under-bust support structures which can provide benefits such as relief of back strain and better breast lift and shape. The integration of one or more structural support members into a garment can result in damage to other components of the garment and/or cause discomfort to a wearer to the garment. Further, such integration can increase the time, cost and complexity in manufacture of the garment.
Summary
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a structural support for a garment, the structural support comprising a textile panel and a structural support member, the method comprising: using a jig to position the structural support member in a predetermined configuration, placing the textile panel at a predetermined position upon the structural support member, wherein an adhesive element, comprising adhesive, is disposed at an interface between the textile panel and the structural support member when the textile panel is in the predetermined position, and applying pressure to the textile panel and structural support member to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the structural support member.
Applying the pressure helps to ensure a secure bond between the structural support member and the textile panel. Adhering the structural support member and the textile panel to each other helps to prevent movement of the structural support member relative to the textile panel when the garment is worn, which may provide superior comfort and durability of the structural support compared to a structural support formed without using the claimed method.
There may be no need to stitch the structural support member to the textile panel, which may be more time-consuming and less comfortable to a wearer of the garment compared to a structural support formed by the claimed method.
The garment may be a brassiere and the structural support may be a supporting structure for a cup of the brassiere.
The adhesive element may be disposed on a side of the structural support member and/or on a side of the textile panel. The adhesive element may comprise a barrier, such as a film, covering the adhesive, and the method may comprise removing the barrier before the applying pressure. The removing may be before or after the using a jig to position the structural support member in the predetermined configuration. This may help to ensure foreign objects do not unintentionally adhere to the adhesive.
The adhesive element may be inherently flexible. This may ensure that the resulting structural support is not made stiffer by the presence of the adhesive element, which may increase the comfort of the garment. For example, the adhesive element may be in the form of a bonding tape.
The method may comprise applying heat to the textile panel and structural support member. Applying heat may cause partial melting of the adhesive, to bond the structural support member and the textile panel to each other more effectively. Applying heat may decrease a time taken to sufficiently bond the structural support member and the textile panel to each other, compared to not applying heat.
The applying heat may be performed concurrently with the applying pressure, which may result in a more secure bond than the applying heat and applying pressure being performed non-concurrently.
The applying may comprise heating a plate to at least a predetermined temperature and pressing the plate against the jig to sandwich the textile panel between the jig and the plate. This may allow uniform heat and pressure to be provided across the textile panel, and therefore across the interface between the textile panel and the structural support member. This may ensure a uniform, and therefore reliable, bond is formed between the structural support member and the textile panel, which may provide a high-quality and durable structural support.
The predetermined temperature may be from 60 to 200 degrees Centigrade, for example around 175 degrees Centigrade. The predetermined temperature may be a sufficient temperature to raise the temperature of the adhesive to a melting point of the adhesive, without damaging the textile panel or the structural support member. The predetermined temperature may be applied for a sufficient time for the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the structural support member. Depending on the adhesive used, the sufficient time may be from 10 to 180 seconds, for example. The predetermined temperature may be a predetermined temperature range, for example from 150 to 200 degrees Centigrade, or from 170 to 180 degrees Centigrade.
The plate may be of sufficient size to cover all of the structural support member.
The applying heat may comprise bringing the adhesive to a melt point of the adhesive. Depending on this adhesive used, this may be a temperature from 60 to 200 degrees Centigrade, for example. Such a range of temperatures may be sufficient to at least partially melt the adhesive, but insufficient to cause heat-related damage to the textile panel or the structural support member.
The jig may be heat-resistant, to prevent excessive heating of the structural support member and/or the textile panel during the applying heat. For example, the jig may be formed from one or more of acetate, silicon or Teflon' Upon cooling after the applying heat, the structural support member may be configured to set in the predetermined configuration. This may help to ensure that the structural support member retains the predetermined configuration upon removal from the jig after the method has been performed, which may provide more repeatable forming of the structural support of the garment. This may also make the final form of the garment more predictable.
The structural support member may be inherently biased to a neutral configuration, and the using the jig may comprise deforming the structural support member away from the neutral configuration to the predetermined configuration. This may permit a structural support member having a given neutral configuration to be used in different predetermined configurations, for example for different styles of garment, such as different styles of brassiere. In examples, the structural support member may be cut from a supply length, for example a coil having a first diameter, before the positioning. Accordingly, the neutral configuration would be an arc having the first diameter. In such examples, the positioning may comprise deforming the structural support member to have an arc having a second diameter different to the first diameter.
The structural support member may be flexible, arid the deforming may comprise elastically deforming the structural support member. This may allow the structural support member to be non-permanently deformed as it is placed in the jig, which may help to ensure that the structural support member is placed in the predetermined configuration.
The jig may comprise a cut-out defining the predetermined configuration, and the using the jig may comprise inserting the structural support member in the cut-out. Inserting the structural support member in the cut-out may help to prevent movement of the structural support member away from the predetermined configuration. This may help to ensure accurate positioning of the structural support member relative to the textile panel.
The method may comprise marking the jig to define the predetermined position of the textile panel. This may allow for rapid alignment of the textile panel relative to the structural support member once the support member is positioned in the jig.
Marking the jig may provide more accurate positioning between the structural support member and the textile panel since the position of both components is defined by the jig. Therefore, there is no accumulation of error in the relative positioning of both components.
The marking may comprise sticking heat-resistant tape upon the jig, and the placing may comprise removably-adhering one or more predetermined portions of the textile panel to the heat-resistant tape. This may help to ensure that the textile panel does not move relative to the jig during the applying heat and/or the applying pressure.
The applying pressure may comprise applying pressure for a sufficient time for the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the stnictural support member. Depending on the adhesive used, the sufficient time may, for example be from 10 to 180 seconds, such as around 40 seconds. In examples in which heat and pressure are applied concurrently, the sufficient time may allow time for the adhesive to be heated to a melting point of the adhesive and for the adhesive to subsequently bond the textile panel to the structural support member.
The applying pressure may comprise applying pressure at from 2 to 8 bar, for example at around 5 bar. This may provide sufficient force at the interface between the structural support member and the textile panel to cause the adhesive to bond the structural support member to the textile panel, whilst helping to avoid pressure-related damage to the structural support member or the textile panel.
The jig may be fixed to a support plate. This may help prevent relative movement between the jig and the support plate. In turn, this may help prevent movement of the jig, and thus the structural support member, during the applying pressure. This may help to ensure that the structural support member and the textile panel are bonded together at the correct position relative to one another.
There may be a relatively high coefficient of friction between the support plate and the jig, which may further help to prevent relative movement between the jig and the support plate.
The jig may be removably fixed to the support plate, for example removably adhered such as with heat-resistant tape. This may allow different jigs to be fixed to the support plate, for example which define different predetermined configurations of the structural support member. For example, the different jigs may correspond to different brassiere cup sizes.
The support plate may be heat resistant. This may help to prevent excess heating of the structural support member and/or the textile panel during the applying heat.
The support plate may oppose the plate during the applying. This may help to provide good contact between the structural support member and the textile panel. The applying may comprise moving the plate towards the support plate. This allows a gap to be provided between the plate and the support plate before the applying to allow the jig and textile panel to be positioned on the support plate.
The jig may be configured to position two structural support members in respective predetermined configurations. The predetermined position of the textile panel may overlie the two structural support members when the two structural are positioned in the respective predetermined configurations, wherein adhesive elements may be disposed at respective interfaces between the textile panel and each of the two structural support members when the textile panel is in the predetermined position. The applying pressure may comprise applying pressure to the textile panel and the two structural support members to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the two structural support members. This permits the two structural support members to be bonded to different regions of the textile panel. By positioning the two structural support members in the sam e jig, better relative positioning of the two structural support members is ensured, compared to separate bonding of the two structural support members to the textile panel, or the use of two separate jigs.
The structural support member may be a textile element. Use of a textile element as a structural support member has been found to provide superior comfort to a wearer of a garment comprising the structural support member, compared to a rigid, for example metallic, structural support member. For example, the structural support may comprise Arcaform'TM, as described in GB2501986 B, owned by StretchlineTM Intellectual Properties Limited Acraforrnmi is specifically designed for incorporation into garments. Further, a textile element may be less likely to damage, for example poke through, the textile panel or another element of the garment than a non-textile element.
The garment may be a brassiere, and the structural support member may be an elongate under-cup structural support member. The method may provide a structural support of superior comfort, due to there being no stitching or other component, such as an outer tube to receive the structural support member, required to fix the structural support member to the textile panel. This may be particularly beneficial in the field of brassieres because brassieres are continuously held in close proximity to the skin of the wearer.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment obtainable or obtained from a fabrication method comprising a method according to the first aspect of the present invention. The claimed garment may be more comfortable to a wearer than a garment obtainable or obtained from a fabrication method that does not comprise the claimed method because the structural support member and the textile panel may be securely bonded together in an accurate position relative to one another.
The garment may be a brassiere According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use in forming a structural support for a garment, the structural support comprising a structural support member and a textile panel. The apparatus comprises: a jig defining a predetermined configuration for the structural support member, and a pressure application element movable from an first position to a second position, wherein: in the first position, the pressure application element is spaced apart from the jig, and in the second position, when the structural support member is in the predetermined configuration and the textile panel overlies the structural support member with an adhesive disposed at an interface between the structural support member and the textile panel, the pressure application element is configured to apply pressure to the structural support member and the textile panel, to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the structural support member. The apparatus may be suitable for performing the method according to the first aspect of the invention The pressure application element may be a plate of corresponding profile to the jig such that a substantially uniform force is applied across the interface between the structural support member and the textile panel. This may ensure a uniform, and therefore reliable, bond is formed between the structural support member and the textile panel, which may provide a high-quality and durable structural support.
The apparatus may comprise a heater for heating the pressure application element such that, when in the second position, heat is imparted to the adhesive. This may cause the adhesive to at least partially melt, which may strengthen a bond between the structural support member and the textile panel.
The jig may define a predetermined position for the textile panel. This may ensure correct positioning of the textile panel relative to the structural support member when the structural support member is in the predetermined configuration. The predetermined position may be defined by one or more markings on the jig. This may allow for rapid alignment of the textile panel relative to the structural support member once the support member is positioned in the jig. This may also provide more accurate positioning between the structural support member and the textile panel since the position of both components is defined by the jig. Therefore, there is no accumulation of error in the relative positioning of both components.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of an apparatus for use in forming a structural support for a garment, according to an example; Figure 2 shows another schematic front view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a textile element on a reel, the textile element for use as a structural support member in a garment; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a jig comprised in the apparatus of Figure 1 Figure 5 shows a plan view of the jig of Figure 4, with a textile panel on the jig; Figure 6 shows a garment according to an example; and Figure 7 is a flow diagram depicting a method, according to an example.
Detailed Description
The apparatus 10 shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2 is for use in forming a structural support for a garment. The apparatus comprises a support plate 12, a plate 14 arid a jig 20. The plate 14 is movable relative to the support plate 12 from a first position, as shown in Figure 1, to a second position, as shown in Figure 2, as denoted by arrow A. In the second position, the plate 14 is closer to the support plate 12 than in the first position.
The support plate 12 supports the jig 20. In this example, a heat-resistant tape 16 extends around substantially all of a perimeter of the jig 20 and is disposed between the support plate 12 and the jig 20, to removably adhere the jig 20 to the support plate 12. Alternative suitable mechanisms to fix the jig 20 to the support plate 12 may be employed in other examples, and the tape 16 may be omitted. In other examples, the jig 20 is not fixed to the support plate 12 and is instead held in place on the support plate 12 by friction between the support plate 12 and the jig 20.
The jig 20 is configured to position two structural support members 30 in respective predetermined configurations. In this example, the jig 20 comprises two arcuate cut-outs 22, as best shown in Figure 4, defining the respective predetermined configurations. In this example, the garment is a brassiere 60, and the structural support members 30 are elongate below-cup supports for the brassiere 60, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6. The structural support members 30 are received in the cut-outs 22 such that movement of the stnictural support members 30 is substantially inhibited by the jig 20. In other examples, the jig 20 is configured to position a different number of structural support members and comprises a corresponding different number of respective cut-outs, such as only one structural support member and only one cut-out.
The structural support members 30 are flexible textile elements cut from an elongate strip 32 on a supply reel 34, as shown in Figure 3. The textile element in this example is ArcaformT". The reel 34 is cylindrical and the elongate strip 32 is biased to a diameter that is substantially equal to a diameter of the reel 34. The elongate strip 32 is cut to predetermined lengths corresponding to lengths of the respective cut-outs 22, to form the structural support members 30. The cut-outs 22 of the jig 20 have a greater diameter than the reel 34. Accordingly, to position the structural support members 20 in the cut-outs 22, the structural support members 20 are elastically deformed from the positions denoted by dashed lines in Figure 4 to the shape of the cut-outs 22, as denoted by the arrows B in Figure 4.
Adhesive elements, each comprising an adhesive 32, are disposed on an upward-facing side of each structural support member 30 when the structural support members 30 are in the cut-outs 22. In this example, the adhesive elements are disposed on the elongate strip 32 on the supply reel 34. In other examples, the adhesive elements may be placed on the structural support members 30 before or after they are placed in the cut-outs, and before the plate 14 is moved to the second position. In this example, each of the adhesive elements is in the form of a heat-resistant tape and comprises a removable film on a layer of the adhesive 32. The film is removed before use of the apparatus 10, leaving an exposed layer of the adhesive 32 on the upward-facing side of the structural support members 30.
The jig 20 is configured to support a textile panel 40 in a predetermined position, in which the textile panel 40 overlies the structural support members 30 in the cut-outs 22. Accordingly, the adhesive 32 is disposed at a respective interface between the textile panel 40 and each of the structural support members 30, as best shown in Figure 1. In other examples, an adhesive is, alternatively or additionally, disposed on the textile panel 30. The textile panel 40 in this example is a below-cup panel of a brassiere 60, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6 The jig 20 comprises a plurality of markings 24 that define the predetermined position of the textile panel 40. The textile panel 40 is aligned with the markings 24 when the textile panel 40 overlies the structural support members 30, as best shown in Figure 5. In other examples, the plurality of markings 24 are omitted and the predetermined position defined in an alternative way, for example by shining a focussed light beam at the jig 20 or by shaping the jig 20 to the shape of the textile panel 40.
In use of the apparatus 10, when the structural support members 30 are in the predetermined configurations and the textile panel 40 is in the predetermined position, the plate 14 is moved from the first position to the second position to apply pressure to the textile panel 40 and stnictural support members 30 to cause the adhesive 32 to bond the textile panel 40 to the structural support members 30 and thus form a structural support 50. The support plate 12 reacts the force applied by the plate 14 to the textile panel 40 and structural support members 30. The pressure is applied at around 5 bar and for around 40 seconds. In other examples, other pressures and times could be used depending on, for example, the material(s) that form the textile panel 40 and structural support member 30, the type of adhesive 32, and the location of the plate 14 relative to the textile panel 40 and structural support member 30.
A height of the jig 20 is less than a height of the structural support members 30, such that the pressure applied by the plate 14 is transferred to the adhesive 32 and structural support members 30 via the textile panel 40. If the height of the jig 20 were equal to or greater than the height of the structural support members 30, the pressure would instead be transferred to the jig 20 via the textile panel 40, which may reduce the strength of a bond between the textile panel 40 and the structural support members 30.
The apparatus 10 comprises a heater 16 configured to heat the plate 14 above an ambient temperature. In this example, the heater 16 heats the plate 14 whilst the plate 14 is in the second position and before the plate 14 is moved to the second position. In use, heat is imparted from the plate 14 to the textile panel 40 and the adhesive 32 to cause the adhesive 32 to partially melt and thus form a strong bond between the textile panel 40 and the structural support members 30. The heater 16 heats the plate 14 such that the adhesive 32 is heated to a temperature of around 175 degrees Centigrade. In other examples, other temperatures could be used depending on, for example, the material(s) that form the textile panel 40 and structural support member 30, the type of adhesive 32, and the location of the plate 14 relative to the textile panel 40 and structural support member 30.
The jig 20 in this example is formed from silicone rubber sheeting, to prevent excessive heat transfer from the plate 14 or textile panel 40 to the jig 20. This may prevent over-heating of the structural support member 30 and/or the adhesive 32.
In this example, the application of heat causes the structural support members to retain the predetermined configurations when the structural support members 30 are subsequently removed from the jig 20. That is, the structural support members 30 are no longer biased to the diameter of the reel 34 and instead retain the predetermined condition when the structural support 50 is used in manufacture of a garment.
In other examples, the heater 16 may be omitted and the application of pressure by the plate 14 is sufficient to bond the textile panel 40 to the structural support members 30.
Figure 6 shows a brassiere 60 comprising the structural support 50 formed during use of the apparatus 10. The structural support 50 is attached to a pair of cups 62, 64 and to first and second side panels 66, 68 that meet at the back of a user when the brassiere 60 is worn by the user. The structural support members 30 in this example are positioned below a respective one of the pair of cups 62, 64. In other examples, the structural support members 30 are positioned elsewhere, for example at a lower portion of the respective cups 62, 64.
Figure 7 depicts a method 100 according to an example. The method 100 is a method of forming a structural support for a garment, the structural support comprising a textile panel and a structural support member. The method 100 may be performed by the apparatus 100 described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 and the structural support may be the structural support 50, comprising the structural support members 30 and the textile panel 40. In this example, each of the structural support members 30 is an elongate under-cup textile element and the garment is the brassiere 60 shown in Figure 6.
The method 100 comprises using a jig to position the structural support member in a predetermined configuration, as shown in block 102. The jig comprises a cut-out that defines the predetermined configuration of the structural support member, and using the jig comprises inserting the structural support member in the cut-out. The structural support member is flexible and inherently biased to an arc having a first diameter, and using the jig comprises elastically deforming the structural support member to an arc having a second diameter different to the first diameter to insert the structural support member in the cut-out.
In this example, the jig is fixed to a support plate. In other examples, the method comprises removably fixing the jig to the support plate, for example with heat-resistance tape. In other examples, the jig is not fixed to the support plate, or is held in place on the support plate by friction between the support plate and the jig.
The method 100 further comprises placing the textile panel at a predetermined position upon the structural support member, as shown in block 104. An adhesive element, comprising adhesive, is disposed at an interface between the textile panel and the structural support member when the textile panel is in the predetermined position In this example, the jig comprises a plurality of markings that define the predetermined position of the textile panel. In other examples, the method comprises marking the jig relative to the cut-outs to define the predetermined position of the textile panel.
The method 100 further comprises applying pressure of around 5 bar for around 40 seconds to the textile panel and structural support member to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the structural support member, as shown in block 106.
The method 100 further comprises applying heat to the textile panel and structural support member, as shown in block 108. In other examples, the applying heat may be omitted. The applying heat comprises heating a plate, such as the plate 14 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, to at least 175 degrees Centigrade and pressing the heated plate against the jig to sandwich the textile panel between the jig and the plate. The heated plate is used to simultaneously apply the pressure to the textile panel and the structural support member. This causes the adhesive rise in temperature to around 175 degrees Centigrade, causing the adhesive to melt during the application of pressure to strengthen a subsequent bond between the textile panel and the structural support member. In other examples, other temperatures, pressures and times could be used depending on, for example, the material(s) that form the textile panel 40 and structural support member 30, the type of adhesive 32, and the location of the plate 14 relative to the textile panel 40 and structural support member 30.
The structural support member is configured to set in the predetermined configuration after the heated plate is moved away from the jig and the structural support subsequently cools The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. For example, the method may be for forming a structural support having a plurality of structural support members and the jig may be arranged to position the plurality of structural support members is respective predetermined configurations. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.
Claims (18)
- CLAIMS1. A method of forming a structural support for a garment, the structural support comprising a textile panel and a structural support member, the method comprising: using a jig to position the structural support member in a predetermined configuration; placing the textile panel at a predetermined position upon the structural support member, wherein an adhesive element, comprising adhesive, is disposed at an interface between the textile panel and the structural support member when the textile panel is in the predetermined position; and applying pressure to the textile panel and structural support member to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the structural support member.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising applying heat to the textile panel and structural support member.
- 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the applying heat comprises: heating a plate to at least a predetermined temperature; and pressing the plate against the jig to sandwich the textile panel between the jig and the plate.
- 4 The method according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the applying heat comprises bringing the adhesive to a temperature from 60 to 200 degrees Centigrade.
- 5. The method according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein, upon cooling after the applying heat, the structural support member is configured to set in the predetermined configuration
- 6. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the structural support member is inherently biased to a neutral configuration, and the using the jig comprises deforming the structural support member away from the neutral configuration to the predetermined configuration.
- 7. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the jig comprises a cut-out defining the predetermined configuration, and the using the jig comprises inserting the structural support member in the cut-out.
- 8 The method according to any preceding claim, comprising marking the jig to define the predetermined position of the textile panel.
- 9. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the applying pressure comprises applying pressure for from 10 to 180 seconds.
- 10. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the applying pressure comprises applying pressure at from 2 to 8 bar.
- 11. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the jig is fixed to a support plate.
- 12. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein: the jig is configured to position two structural support members in respective predetermined configurations; the predetermined position of the textile panel overlies the two structural support members when the two structural are positioned in the respective predetermined configurations, wherein adhesive elements are disposed at respective interfaces between the textile panel and each of the two structural support members when the textile panel is in the predetermined position; and the applying pressure comprises applying pressure to the textile panel and the two structural support members to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the two structural support members.
- 13. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the structural support member is a textile element.
- 14. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the garment is a brassiere, and the structural support member is an elongate under-cup structural support member.
- 15. A Garment obtainable or obtained from a fabrication method comprising the method according to any preceding claim.
- 16. A garment according to claim 15, wherein the garment is a brassiere.
- 17. An apparatus for use in forming a structural support for a garment, the structural support comprising a structural support member and a textile panel, the apparatus comprising: a jig defining a predetermined configuration for the structural support member; and a pressure application element movable from a first position to a second position, wherein: in the first position, the pressure application element is spaced apart from the jig; and in the second position, when the structural support member is in the predetermined configuration and the textile panel overlies the structural support member with an adhesive disposed at an interface between the structural support member and the textile panel, the pressure application element is configured to apply pressure to the structural support member and the textile panel, to cause the adhesive to bond the textile panel to the structural support member.
- 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the jig defines a predetermined position for the textile panel.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2210860.9A GB2620934A (en) | 2022-07-25 | 2022-07-25 | Method of forming a structural support for a garment |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2210860.9A GB2620934A (en) | 2022-07-25 | 2022-07-25 | Method of forming a structural support for a garment |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB202210860D0 GB202210860D0 (en) | 2022-09-07 |
| GB2620934A true GB2620934A (en) | 2024-01-31 |
Family
ID=84540497
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2210860.9A Pending GB2620934A (en) | 2022-07-25 | 2022-07-25 | Method of forming a structural support for a garment |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2620934A (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1958524A1 (en) * | 2007-02-16 | 2008-08-20 | Macpi Pressing Division S.P.A. | Apparatus for seamless applying to a bra a casing for housing a bra-cup supporting element |
| EP3238556A1 (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2017-11-01 | Wolford Aktiengesellschaft | Method for producing a flexible sheet material |
-
2022
- 2022-07-25 GB GB2210860.9A patent/GB2620934A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1958524A1 (en) * | 2007-02-16 | 2008-08-20 | Macpi Pressing Division S.P.A. | Apparatus for seamless applying to a bra a casing for housing a bra-cup supporting element |
| EP3238556A1 (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2017-11-01 | Wolford Aktiengesellschaft | Method for producing a flexible sheet material |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB202210860D0 (en) | 2022-09-07 |
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