US3592719A - Garment strap material - Google Patents

Abstract

AN IMPROVED GARMENT STRAP MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME, THE STRAP COMPRISING A DOUBLE THICKNESS OF MATERIAL. A WEB OF MATERIAL OF ESSENTIALLY TWICE THE WIDTH OF STRAP DESIRED IS FORMED OR FOLDED ALONG TWO FOLD LINES TO DISPOSE THE MARGINAL EDGES OF THE WEB IN ADJACENT OR ABUTTING RELATION ON ONE WURFACE OF THE STRAP MATERIAL. THE EDGES ARE THEREAFTER COVERED BY FLOCKING BONDED TO THE SURFACE, THE ADHESIVE, IN ADDITON TO ITS FLOCK SUPPORTING FUCTION, LAMINATING THE DOUBLE LAYERS OF MATERIAL.

Description

July 13, 1971 c, v, Y, JR 3,592,719

GARMENT STRAP MATERIAL 7 Filed 061;. 25, 1968 FIG./

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INVEN'I'OR. CLAUDE V OFFRAY, Jr.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,592,719 GARMENT STRAP MATERIAL Claude V. Otfray, .112, 21 Portland Road, Summit, NJ. 07901 Filed Oct. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 770,649 Int. Cl. A41f /00 US. Cl. 161-64 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention is in the field of straps for garments and relates particularly to an improved strap and method of making the same which has the appearance of a seamless strap, which is comfortable less, liable to slipping relative to the skin of the wearer, and resistant to curling.

The prior art Herctofore many forms of garment straps have been employed in such applications as brassieres, slips and similar garments. Such straps typically have been comprised of knitted or woven materials of either single or double layer construction.

.It is also known to provide a rubber strap material, and to render the same more comfortable to the wearer by applying a flock to one surface of the strap.

While a knitted, seamless, double layered strap material is preferred to other types, the cost of such material is considerably greater than straps formed by folding a web and stitching the two layers together. The stitchedtogether strap, while functionally the equivalent of the knitted, seamless strap, is considered to be less desirable since the stitching is unsightly and subject, after use, to unravelling. The exposed selvage edges of the fabric are likely to become frayed and worn after weakening of the stitching thus detracting from the apearance of the garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved strap material formed of a web, the marginal edges of which have been inturned and bonded to the back layer, the edges being preferably brought into abutting relation substantially centrally of one surface of the strap. An adhesive is applied over the abutting edges and worked through the surface to unite the front and back faces of the web, the adhesive serving the additional function of supporting a flock which overlies the marginal edges, thus to conceal the seam. Preferably the flock extends for less than the entire width of the strap.

In use, with the flocked surface against the skin of the wearer, the strap will assume a normally concave configuration due to the thickness of the flock layer, with the flock at the inner face of the concavity, thereby to define a strap structure less likely to slip relative to the skin of the wearer and yet provide a high comfort factor.

The marginal edges of the folded strap provide the desirable roll edge appearance associated with the more 3,592,719 Patented July 13, 1971 expensive seamless knitted strap, and the free or selva-ge edges are entirely concealed and thus not subject to wear or unravelling.

The invention further relates to a method of making a strap of the type described which includes the steps of inturning the marginal edges of a single thickness web toward each other, applying an adhesive to the surface which includes the inturned marginal edges, which adhesive is worked through the fabric in such manner as to secure the layers thus formed to each other, applying a flock to the still uncured adhesive and thereafter curing the adhesive simultaneously to connect the flock and laminate the layers.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved strap material. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a strap material of the type described which is less expensive to manufacture than knitted seamless straps while possessing all of the advantages of appearance inherent in such knitted straps.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a strap of the type described having a central flocking strip concealing the two marginal edges of the web, the flocking preferably extending for less than the entire width of a surface of the strap to provide a strap which is concave in use and, hence less likely to wander or slip relative to the skin of the wearer, while at the same time providing a high comfort factor.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method of making a strap of the type described.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

'FIG. (1 is a schematic view of processing equipment for forming a strap material of the type described;

FIG. 2 is a section through the web of material after completion of the folding step;

FIG. 3 is a magnified sectional view through the material after application of the adhesive;

FIG. 4 is a magnified sectional view after the flocking step;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View showing the position assumed by the parts when the strap is stressed over the shoulder of a wearer.

Reference will now be made to the drawings forming a part hereof. The improved strap material may employ as a matrix or substrate, porous cloth material 10 such as broadcloth or like woven or knitted material made of nylon, rayon, etc. The material, which may be supplied in desired narrow widths of l or 1%" or which may be severed from a bulk supply to the desired width, is first fed through a folding station 11 from a supply drum 12. The full width web or substrate is led through a series of folding guides or rolls of any desired type which turn the marginal edges 13, .14 of the material inwardly essentially to the edge abutting relation shown in FIG. 2.

For purposes of clarity, the minor body portions 15, 16 which comprise the parts of the web lying between the end fold 17 and edge :13, and the end fold 18 and edge 14 respectively, are shown as spaced away from the major or body portion or back 19 of the web although this space, in practice, would not exist since the result of the folding step is tightly to compress the minor body portion against the back portion.

The folded fabric is passed through an adhesive applying station 20, whereat a suitable adhesive material 21 is applied against the outer surfaces of the minor body portions 15, 16. A series of doctor blades or like expedients within the adhesive station 20 force the adhesive through the interstices of the fabric so as to connect the minor body portions with the back portion 19.

As best seen from FIG. 3, the adhesive material 21 is not applied across the entire width of the minor body portions 15, 16, the adhesive being preferably limited in its application to a central portion of these parts, to leave the outer edge areas 22, 23 free of adhesive.

It will be understood that as a result of the adhesive applying step, and in addition to the quantity of adhesive which connects the minor body portions to the back layer 19, there remains a tacky surface layer of adhesive covering the central part of the upper surface which is defined by the minor body portions, the tacky outer adhesive components forming an anchoring medium for the flock which is applied at the flocking station 24.

The flock 25 may be applied either by electrostatic deposition or by a beater bar type of applicator, depending particularly on the nature of the finish which is desired. Where the flock fibers are desired to be disposed essentially normal to the surface of the article, as shown in FIG. 4, electrostatic deposition is employed. Where random orientation of the flock fibers is satisfactory, beater bar application is altogether feasible.

The flocked material shown in FIG. 4 is next led through a drying and curing station 26 which may employ any known drying expedient, including high frequency or conventional drying techniques to effect curing of the adhesive and consequent bonding of the flock to the adhesive covered surface portions of the minor body portions 15, 16.

The drying step likewise effects curing of the cement between the back layer and the minor body portions, thus to laminate these parts.

The dried material is wound on a take-up roll 27, at which point the strap material is ready for use.

It will be appreciated that as all of the individual steps, namely, the folding, adhesive application, flocking and drying steps are well known and may be carried out by a variety of available equipment, descriptions thereof have been eliminated for purposes of simplicity.

Similarly, in the diagrammatic showing of FIG. 1, while the processing has been indicated to be a continuous one in which the various steps are carried out by a single apparatus which subjects the web to a subsequent treatment directly after it has completed a previous treatment, it will be appreciated that some of the steps may be carried out on a non-continuous basis and the intermediate product stored. Specifically, it is feasible to fold the material at a time and position remote from the ensuing processing steps, and thereafter complete the adhesive application, flocking and drying.

While it will be evident to the skilled worker from the foregoing description that a variety of materials may be used, depending on the characteristics of the end product which is sought, there is illustrated below a suggested group of materials which have been found suitable for the formation of strap materials for brassieres.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment and for purposes of compliance with the patent statutes, the web material 10 may comprise a cotton broadcloth of about 60 count lengthwise and 100 count widthwise.

The flock retaining and laminating adhesive may comprise a latex type, water base emulsion, such as HYCAR (T.M.) 2679 or 2671 made by B. F. Goodrich. A further suitable adhesive, in this instance a self cross-linking acrylic type, is emulsion 177B, manufactured by Hauthaway Corp. of Lynn, Mass.

It will be readily understood that many suitable organic solvent based adhesives will suggest themselves for use in the procedure.

The adhesives specifically set forth have a viscosity in the range of about 48,000 to 52,000 cps. at 75 R, which viscosity has been found suitable to achieve the desired spreading, as well as permitting penetration of the cotton fabric having the count above set forth.

It will be readily recognized that variations in the viscosity and in the quantity of adhesive should be made elO where fabrics of different composition and/or count are to be employed. The amount of adhesive applied may best be determined by experiment with each different fabric, as is usual in laminating applications, it being preferred to use sufficient adhesive to provide a strong interlayer bond but to avoid the application of adhesives of such low viscosity or in such quantity as to permit the adhesive to show through the backing layer 19. In the process of applying the adhesive, sufficient flock retaining quantities must be permitted to remain on the surface.

Various types of flocking materials have been found satisfactory and, as is well known, the nature and size of the flocculant chosen, as well as the manner of its aplication, will cause considerable variation in the appearance and characteristics of the flocked effect.

With the use of the materials and adhesives set forth above, a variety of flock types have been satisfactorily applied. By way of example, ground cotton flock of random length has been used. Also graded rayon flock 3 denier .03" length or 6 denier .06" length have been found satisfactory.

The use of nylon flock with the above materials has also been satisfactorily tested and a 3 denier to 6 denier nylon flock in length varying between .03" to .06 1s recommended.

The flock type, sizes and lengths are by no means limitative and other materials and size ranges will undoubtedly be found satisfactory, depending upon the particular application in which they are to be employed.

Where electrostatic deposition of the flock is contemplated, the flock must be AC and DC treated by the manufacturer, such treatment not being necessary for beater bar application.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flock material 25 covers a transverse area which includes the mating or end-abutting marginal edges 13, 14 of the web material. Thus, no stitching or selvage edges are visible in the finished material.

By reason of the application of the flock layer at a central portion only of the strap, the strap, when tensioned into position over a portion of the anatomy of the wearer (represented in FIG. 5 by the letter W), will assume an essentially concave configuration, with the concavity being directed toward the wearer. This characteristic of the strap material is highly desirable in that the tendency of the strap to slip or to roll or double over on itself is essentially eliminated.

In contrast, when ordinary straps are tensioned against the body of the wearer, there is a considerable tendency for the strap to cup or assume a convex configuration wherein the marginal edges of the strap are raised to a position clear of the wearer, contact with the wearer being maintained only by a central portion of the strap. When a strap of this conventional sort is subjected to lateral stresses of the kind normally encountered as a result of movement of the wearer, the strap tends to cup further and double up, and to slide relative to the shoulder of the wearer. The cupping or folding action is undesirable since, in addition to encouraging sliding movement of the strap, it increases the effective thickness of the strap, permitting the strap to show through outer garments, such as sweaters. Moreover, the cupping tendency is cumulative in that, after the strap has been forced to a convex position, the folding tendency weakens the central portions of the strap and facilitates folding along this same weakened line on subsequent wearings of the garment.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a strap material having advantages by way of improved appearance, stability and resistance to cupping or curling.

It will be further appreciated that there is described herein an improved method of manufacturing flocked material of the type set forth.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a strap material for supporting a garment or the like, said material having front and rear portions, comprising a porous fabric web, said front portion of said strap being defined by folded over portions of said web, with the marginal edges of said web disposed in substantial abutting relation, a flocked central strip portion in registry with said abutting marginal edges and concealing the same, said strip extending across less than the entire Width of said strap, thus to define a strap which is thicker at the central portions than at the side edges, whereby when a length of said strap is draped under tension over a body portion of a wearer with said front face adjacent the body, said rear portion of said strap will assume a convex configuration.

References Cited ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner L. M. CARLIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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