US2306350A

US2306350A - Garment form

Info

Publication number: US2306350A
Application number: US358646A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Wahlbeck
Original assignee: Paramount Textile Machinery Co
Current assignee: Paramount Textile Machinery Co
Priority date: 1940-09-27
Filing date: 1940-09-27
Publication date: 1942-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1959-12-22

Description

De. 22, 1942. WAHLBECK 2,306,350

GARMENT FORM Filed Sept. 27. 1940 wag.

Patented Dec. 22, 1942 2,306,350 GARMENT FORM John H.

Paramount Textile Machinery Wahlbeck, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to 00.. Chicago,

Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application September 21, 1940, Serial No. 358,646

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a garment form and particularly to a form having interchan eable attachable and detachable portions to vary the contour thereof. It has more particular reference to a stocking iorm having interchangeable toe portions to vary the foot length to accommodate stockings of different foot sizes.

At the present time there are available on the market garment forms comprised of sheets of metal cut to the contour of the garment to be accommodated and assembled in pairs to comprise a structure having a substantially oval cross-section and crease producing edges. Said edges are joined by welding, brazing or any other commonly known expedient and a base member is provided for mounting the form; Frequently. especially in the case of ladies hose, the dimensions of the leg and foot, other than foot length, remain the same for all nominal sizes of stockings so that it becomes necessary to use either a difierent form'for each foot length or to provide these-me with removable toe portions of various lengths; which are interchangeably detachable with respect to the form to result in a longer or shorter foot portion'thereforl I am aware that forms are available comprised of sheet metal formed as above described, as well as those constructed from a relatively thick single sheet of metal. and provided with interchangeable toe portions, but in thosethe toe portion forms a simple butt joint with the remainder of the form, thereby leaving an interstice between the two joined portions into which loose threads on the inside of the stocking, or the stitches themselves, can easily become snagged. Accordingly. if this should occur the stocking is rejected entirely as waste, or can be sold only at a substantially reduced price as an irregular."

- 7 Furthermore, in the case of interchangeable toe forms intended to be used for a preboarding or equivalent setting operation on hosiery knitted of yarns comprised of synthetic yarns, as for example, synthetic llnear condensation polyamides, commonly known as nylon, any clip or fastening means employed to connect the toe portion with the form proper and which may project above the normal surface of the form will, under the conditions of heat and moisture encountered in such setting operations, mold undesirable formations in the stocking and unfavorably affect their saleability. Moreover. it is recognized that nylon has a decidedly greater propensity to snag than has natural silk. rayons or other known fibres used in knitted articles, so that the snag- 66 form extending from the ankle through ging hazard alluded to in the foregoing paragraph now takes on even greater significance.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide in a form of the class de scribed interchangeable contour-varying members adapted to meet with the remainder of the form in such relation that no interstices likely to present a snagging hazard to the goods are formed at the junction.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a form of the class described a contourvarying member which will mate with the form proper to result in a smooth, flush sunace over the entire working area of the form.

In the types or cap-like toes presently available for sheet metal iorms,.it is diiflcult to maintain the alinement of the toe and foot portion edgewise or flatwise inasmuch as the curved inner surface of the toe is adapted to fit over a substantialiy corresponding curved projection onthe toot portion and no guide pins or equivalent aligning means are provided. As a practical matter it is difllcult to fabricate such'a form with accurately engaging curved suriaces, particuiarly because forming dies are too expensive to permit their use for the multitudinous shapes demanded by the trade. Hence when wear occurs during use, the toe becomes loose and misaligned with danger of snagging. In the case of forms made from a single sheet of metal, most frequently aluminum, the soft engaging surfaces become worn during use with the same shortcoming just described.

' Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a form of the type referred to in which provision is made for initial accurate alignment of the toe portion with the foot portion, and for maintenance of said alignment substantially over the entire liie oi the equipment; and in the event normal slight wear occurs, which is desired to be remedied, renewed aligning means can be quickly and cheaply installed, and the form rendered as accurate as when new.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a garment form including interchangeable contour-varying members, which is simple to manufacture, rapidly interchangeable, and comprising a rigid, unitary structure when the member is assembled with the form proper.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a toe assembled with the form proper;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the the foot and showing the toe proper;

Figure 3 is a view on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial cross section on the line 55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 shows an alternative form of the interengaging elements of Figure 5.

In the following description, the invention will be described with reference to a stocking form not adapted to be heated internally, as for example, a form used for a preboarding or equivalent setting operation, or generally, a form adapted to accommodate a stocking for treatment by a medium applied exteriorly. However, as will be alluded to hereinafter, the invention is equally applicable to a form adapted to receive a heating medium interiorly. Nor is the disclosure to be understood as being limited to interchangeable toe portions as such, as it will be obvious that the invention is equally applicable where other parts of the form contour are desired to be modified by interchangeable memhers. Moreover, the description is not to be construed as limited to a form to accommodate stockings, since the invention, in its essentials, applicable to forms for other garments and arranged for contour-changing.

Referring to Figure 1, 9 represents the form proper comprising a mounting base ID, a leg portion H, a foot portion l2, and a detachable toe portion I3. The sides of the body of the form sheet metal cut to the desired contour and formed by dies or otherwise to the curve indicated in Figure 3, and joined at the edges [4 and I5 by welding, brazing, solders or m 2 ui ab e means. o y d he substantially oval cross-section there shown. If desired, a rib l6 may be provided substantially centrally'and longitudinally of the leg portion I (and foot'portlon (2, to add rigidity and provide a'fulcrum for facilitating assembly of the sides of the form in their arcuate relation by bending them thereover if necessary.

In the case of a stocking form it is preferred to provide, along the rear edge 15, a groove I! (Figure 3) to receive the seam of the stocking and preserve proper alignment of the same with respect to the form as treatment proceeds. Said groove may be formed by rollers or a cutter as is usual in the art, and is continued through the toe portion, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5, the rear half of the foot portion l2 across the face thereof is shorter than the front half, as indicated at "l, and in the toe I3 the front half across its face is shorter than the rear half, as indicated at 19, for a purpose to 'be described. Located in the open extremity formed by the curved sides of the foot portion i2 is a substantially oval solid insert 2| having curved parallel sides snugly fitting between the front and rear halves of the said foot portion, the said insert being lodged therein for slightly over half its thickness, to leave a projecting edge 22. Then, by means of spot Welding, or any other suitable joining medium, the insert 2| is permanently joined with the curved sides of the foot portion l2. Insert 2| is provided with a pair of circular holes 23 therethrough. preferably located on its central axis.

The sides of the toe portion I3 are arcuately formed to match the curvature of the sides of the foot portion l2, and there is united therewith an insert 24 of the same shape as the insert 2|, but provided, preferably on its central axis, with disengaged from the form rounded tip 26 to facilitate entry of said dowels into said holes.

If desired, the dowels 25 and holes 23 may be reversed, as illustrated in Figure 6, wherein 23a represents the holes included in the insert of the toe element and 25a. represents the dowels included in the insert of the foot portion.

It is preferred to fabricate the form and its component parts, including the detachable toes stainless steel, Monel may be sprung slightly by pressure of the fingers, causing a. minute misalignment thereof and a pinching action between the dowels 25 and holes 23, but not so severe that the toe can not readily be over the edges, as the joint is broken along the edge rather than through it.

The exposed

portions

22 and 21 of the inserts 2i and 24 respectively serve to support the

overhanging ends

29 and 28 of the rear face of the toe l3 and front face of the foot portion I2 so that these relatively thin members may not become damaged during use.

If it is desired to apply the invention to a form arranged to be heated internally, the insert 2| may be provided with holes 23 drilled only part way through so that the interior of the form 9 is completely sealed for circulation of a heating medium through a suitable base having inlet and outlet connections, as commonly known in the art. Accordingly, the dowels 25 would be foreshortened to take into the blind holes 23. Under this alternative, heating of the toe would take place through the metallic contacting areas of the foot portion and toe.

It will be apprehended that the basic improvements of this invention are applicable to a form comprised of a solid sheet of metal relatively thin in cross section, or of substantially oval cross section and arranged for either internal or external application of a heating medium. In this event if the form is made of relatively soft metal, the holes 23 would be formed by the insertion of hollow bushings in the base metal, said bushings being of relatively greater hardness than the base metal. In connection therewith hard dowels would be inserted in the toe portion so that the evils of having inter-engaged portions of the softer metal will be obviated.

It will be understood that a plurality of toes is furnished for each form proper and that those not in use are stored on a convenient rack. Moreover, it will be apprehended that other zones of the form may be arranged for contour chang ing, as for example, an interchangeable calf and knee portion for changing a form from one for accommodating regular ladies stockings to one for ladies outsize stockings.

I claim:

1. A hollow garment form comprising a body formed of side members joined at the margin thereof to form crease-producing edges except for a substantially blunt body portion adapted to receive a contour-changing member, said portion constituted by an extension of one side member beyond the other and a rigid insert in said blunt body portion; a plurality of holes in said insert; an interchangeable contour-changing member adapted to mate with said blunt body portion comprised of side members formed with one side member thereof extending beyond the other 0D- positely to the offset sides of the mating blunt body portion and forming a flush garment receiving surface therewith; said contour-changing member being provided with an individual rigid insert having dowels therein to engage said holes.

2. A hollow hosiery form comprising a body including a leg and foot portion comprised of side members joined at the margin thereof to form crease-producing edges, except that said foot portion terminates in a substantially blunt toe receiving portion constituted by an extension of one side member beyond the other and a rigid insert in said foot portion; a plurality of holes in said insert parallel to the axis of the foot portion; and an interchangeable toe portion for said form comprised of side members joined at the margin thereof to form crease-producing edges except where said toe portion terminates in a blunt footengaging portion, one side member extending beyond the other oppositely to the offset sides of said foot portion and forming a flush surface therewith; said toe portion being provided at its blunt end with an individual rigid insert having dowels therein to engage said holes.

3. A hosiery structure as in claim 1 in which said first mentioned insert protrudes from said blunt body portion to support the face of the contour-changing member juxtaposed thereto, and said second mentioned insert protrudes from said contour-changing member to support the face of the blunt body portion juxtaposed thereto.

JOHN H. WAHLBECK.