US3643336A

US3643336A - Method and apparatus for pleating fabric

Info

Publication number: US3643336A
Application number: US850754A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jennie Henry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-18
Filing date: 1969-08-18
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22

Abstract

Apparatus for placing pleats in a fabric including an elongated measuring device having longitudinally spaced holes formed therethrough, and a plurality of pleat guides each having two substantially parallel edges and a transverse bend line extending between and normal to these edges to form a retainer flap for retaining the respective pleat guide adjacent an edge of the fabric at which pinch pleats are to be formed. A table of pleat guide selection indicia and fabric amount data is provided for indicating the amount of fabric required, and a particular pleat guide to be utilized where the pleated fabric is to traverse a predetermined distance. In practicing the invention, the distance to be transversed by the pleated fabric is initially measured. The table of pleat guide selection indicia is consulted to determine which of the several pleat guides should be utilized for the particular measured distance of traverse. The table also indicates the amount of fabric required to span this distance after a series of pleats are sewn therein. The measuring device is used to indicate, the locations along a marginal edge of the fabric where bisector fold lines of the pleats are to be formed. Finally, the selected pleat guide is placed on the fabric with one of the parallel edges extending through one of the marks. The other parallel edge is used to determine the seam line of a pleat to be formed at the location of the mark. This use of the selected pleat guide is repeated for each of the marks to form all of the pleats.

Description

United States Patent Henry 1 T elhiZ, 31972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FUR PLEATTNG FABRTQ [72] Inventor: Jennie Henry, 425 West Douglas Drive,

Midwest City, Okla. 731 10 22 Filed: Aug. 118, 1969 211 Appl. No.: 850,754

[52] US. 1. .33/1174 G, 223/34 [51] int. Cl. ..G0l1|b 3/00 [58] Field oiSearch ..33/174 B, 174 G, l B, 197,

[56] References fiited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,145,244 7/1915 Hoffman ..33/19O 1,166,174 12/1915 Bisbee ..223/35 1,243,456 10/1917 Standeford ..33/197 2,458,072 1/1949 Hall 33/174 B 2,834,522 5/1958 Ogle ..223/34 3,369,303 2/1968 Henry ...33/l74 G 3,400,868 9/1968 Euzarraga ..223/34 Primary Examiner--Leonard Forman Assistant Examiner-Dennis A. Dearing Attomey-Dunlap, Laney, Hessin dz Dougherty Apparatus for placing pleats in a fabric including an elongated measuring device having longitudinally spaced holes formed therethrough, and a plurality of pleat guides each having two substantially parallel edges and a transverse bend line extending between and normal to these edges to form a retainer flap for retaining the respective pleat guide adjacent an edge of the fabric at which pinch pleats are to be formed. A table of pleat guide selection indicia and fabric amount data is provided for indicating the amount of fabric required, and a particular pleat guide to be utilized where the pleated fabric is to traverse a predetermined distance.

in practicing the invention, the distance to be transversed by the pleated fabric is initially measured. The table of pleat guide selection indicia is consulted to determine which of the several pleat guides should be utilized for the particular mea' sured distance of traverse. The table also indicates the amount of fabric required to span this distance after a series of pleats are sewn therein. The measuring device is used to indicate, the locations along a marginal edge of the fabric where bisector fold lines of the pleats are to be formed. Finally, the selected pleat guide is placed on the fabric with one of the parallel edges extending through one of the marks. The other parallel edge is used to determine the seam line of a pleat to be formed at the location of the mark. This use of the selected pleat guide is repeated for each of the marks to form all of the pleats.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ll METHOD AND APPARATUS lFUllt PlLlEA'lillNtG ll AMtll C BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to methods and apparatus for sewing fabric, and more particularly, to apparatus and a method for fonning French or pinch pleats in fabric material.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art It is very difficult for seamstresses without considerable experience to form pleats in drapes and other materials in a manner which is aesthetically attractive, and symmetrical and uniform in appearance. The difficulty encountered in this type of sewing operation has arisen in large part from the necessity for rather involved mathematical calculations which must be very accurate in order to properly calculate where the seam lines for the pleats are to be formed, the number of pleats, the amount of material to be used, etc.

In the past, several proposals have been advanced, and some of these have been patented, having as their object, a reduction in the time required for making the necessary calculations in order to sew pleats in fabric, and in order to simplify the procedures which have been traditionally involved. One of the proposed methods and apparatus is set forth in my US. Pat. No. 3,369,303 issued Feb. 20, 1968. According to this method, a series of pleating templates are provided which can be placed upon the fabric for the purpose of making marks on the fabric at the locations where fold lines and seam lines are to be established in making the pleats. A number of these templates are required, however, in correspondence to variation in distances which the finished pleated fabric is to span. This frequently results in a loss of some templates, and the inability to use the remaining templates satisfactorily without extensive adjustments and mathematical corrections and calculations.

A marking gauge for use in providing pinch pleats in fabric is shown in McNeil US. Pat. No. 2,929,146. The McNeil marking gauge is substantially universal in its application, but due to the inclusion of springs which must remain of equal resilient properties, and of other parts which may become easily broken, the McNeil marking gauge provides some diffaculty in use, and does not have an effective service or operating life which is as long as might be desirable.

Brief Description of the Present Invention The present invention provides an improved and simplified apparatus for forming pinch pleats in fabric. Conjunctively, a method for using this apparatus is proposed which can be utilized quite easily by a seamstress of relatively little experience to form pleated fabrics, such as custom drapes and the like, which are professional in appearance, and can be quickly manufactured for any particular space which it may be necessary to cover or traverse with the fabric. Broadly described, the apparatus of the invention comprises an elongated measuring or marking device which is a substantially monoplanar, elongated sheet of material having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough in longitudinally spaced relation over the length of the material. The apertures are spaced from each other by a distance which corresponds to the amount of material which is to be included in each pinch pleat, plus the amount of unpleated material which is to separate adjacent pinch pleats. There are then additionally provided, a plurality of pleat guides which are also substantially monoplanar sheets of material which have been folded along a transverse fold line which extends between two parallel side edges. This effective ly forms a retaining flap which can be extended over the marginal edge of the fabric to be pleated for certain measuring and alignment purposes hereinafter described. The several pleat guides each have parallel side edges, and the distances which separate these side edges of the pleat guides vary from one pleat guide to another by a small amount. The several pleat guides may thus be selectively utilized to place a greater or smaller amount of material in the pleats of a fabric within a given space which is to be spanned, so that the finished pleated fabric will exist in a form in which it terminates at each end of the span in a pleat. As a final portion of the apparatus which is provided, a table of pleat guide selection indicia and fabric amount data is provided which indicates the amount of fabric which will be required to span a predetermined distance when the fabric is pleated by the use of the method of the in vention, and to further indicate the particular one of the pleat guides which is to be utilized in pleating the prescribed length of fabric for the purpose of spanning such predetermined distance.

In the practice of the method of the invention, the distance which is to be spanned by the pleated fabric is initially mea sured. Following this, the table of pleat guide selection indicia and fabric amount data is consulted to determine first, the total width of fabric which will be utilized to make the finished pleated article, and second, the particular pleat guide which shall be used for the purpose of establishing where the seam lines used in making each pleat shall fall along the edge of the fabric at which the pleats are to be established. Having determined this information from the table, the measuring device is next utilized to establish points along the marginal edge of the fabric where the pleats are to be folded, in order to establish the delineating lines forming the seam lines of each of the pleats. The selected pleat guide is then used by placing one of its parallel side edges so that this side edge extends normal to the marginal edge of the fabric where the pleats are to be formed, and through one of the marks established adjacent this marginal edge by the use of the measuring device. The second parallel side edge of the selected pleat guide is then used to establish the location of the seam line of the pleat (the bisector fold line having been established at the location where the first-mentioned parallel side edge of the pleat guide extends), and the pleat is then sewn at this location. This procedure is repeated at the location of each of the marks formed on the fabric by the use of the measuring device until all of the pleats have been placed in the fabric. The pleated fabric is now completed and is ready for positioning at the desired location.

l have determined that by the use of the described method and apparatus, as few as four of the pleat guides can be utilized for the making of pinch pleated fabrics to span the majority of distances which will be encountered. For very extreme distances, it may in rare instances by desirable to use five or six of the pleat guides for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent, but the four pleat guide usage is almost universal.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will have become apparent that a major object of the invention is to provide a system including a method and apparatus which will enable a seamstress of mean skill and relatively little experience to provide neat and attractive pinch pleated fabrics which can be custom made to span substantially any space normally encountered, such as windows and the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for forming pinch pleats, which apparatus enables a seamstress to provide attractive and accurately formed and spaced pleats in the fabric without the necessity for performing tedious and difficult mathematical computations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for forming pinch pleats which is very simple in construction, is characterized in having a long and trouble-free service life and is very easily used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

BRIEF DESClRllPTION OF THE DRAWlNGS FllG. 11 illustrates a measuring and marking device utilized in one embodiment of the invention.

FllG."2 is a perspective view of one of the pleat guides forming a part of the apparatus of the invention and used in the method of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the fabric to be pleated after the measuring and marking device has been used for marking thereon, and a selected pleat guide is in use.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partially formed pinch pleat which has been made using one of the pleat guides of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a finished pinch pleat constructed using the apparatus and method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIG. I of the drawings, shown therein is a measuring device forming a portion of the apparatus of the invention. The measuring device of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is an elongated, preferably flexible sheet of substantially'monoplanar material having a pair of opposed, longitudinal

straight side edges

12 and 14. The sheet I0, as preferably constructed in accordance with the invention, is 15 inches in length and has a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures 15 formed therein. The apertures 15 are located in the measuring device so that each aperture is located 3 inches from the ends of the sheet of material 10 and the apertures are spaced 9 inches from each other. It will be noted that the sheet 10 is provided with a pair of end edges 16 and 18 which extend substantially normal to the longitudinal side edges 12 and 14 and parallel to each other.

It should be pointed out here that in some usages, it is more convenient to provide semicircular notches in one of the iongitudinal edges 12 or 14 of the sheet 10 forming the measuring device, rather than apertures or holes extending therethrough. This will, in some instances, facilitate the marking of a fabric to be pleated which is carried out using the marking device of the invention in a manner hereinafter described.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown one of a plurality of pleat guides utilized in the invention. The illustrated pleat guide is designated generally by reference character A and includes a main flap 22 of substantially monoplanar, relatively stiff material and a retainer flap 24 which is secured to the main flap 22 along a transverse fold or bend line 26. The main flap 22 is bounded by a pair of substantially parallel side edges 28 and and carries on the surface thereof certain indicia. Thus, along the side edge 28 the indicia PLACE ON PLEAT FOLD is located. Along the side edge 30, the indicia SEW ALONG EDGE appears. Adjacent the transverse bend line 26, the indicia PLACE AT TOP OF PLEAT- AREA appears on the surface of the main sheet 22. The main sheet 22 and the retainer flap 24 are preferably formed integrally in forming the pleat guides of the invention and the transverse bend line 26 is folded in the pleat guide after integral formation of these members. I

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, four pleat guides similar in geometry and construction to that which is illustrated in FIG. 2 are included in the apparatus. The four pleat guides differ from each other only by the distance which separates the parallel side edges 28 and 30 of each pleat guide. For purposes of discussion hereinafter, the four'pleat guides used in the invention and constructed similarly to the pleat guide shown in FIG. 2 will be severally denominated by the letters A, B, C and D. The transverse widths of the pleat guides as measured between the parallel side edges 28 and 30 of each pleat guide differ from each other by an amount which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is one-sixteenth of an inch. As will appear hereinafter, however, this variation in the transverse width of the several pleat guides can be made larger or smaller than one-sixteenth inch, depending upon the precision desired in the final product. Preferably, the variation in transverse width ranges from about one-sixteenth to about one-fourth inch. It is also possible to provide a greater or lesser number of pleat guides than four. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, pleat guide A has a transverse width of 2 13/16 inches, pleat guide B has a transverse width of 2 inches, pleat guide C has a transverse width of 2 l5/ l6 inches, and pleat guide D has a transverse width of 3 inches. These distances, as previously described, are measured between the parallel side edges 28 and 30 of each pleat guide.

The purpose of the provision of the several pleat guides in conjunction with the measuring device 10 is to permit a selected pleat guide to be employed in order to easily establish the amount of material which should be included in each pleat in order to complete the pleating of a fabric so that, regardless of the distance to be spanned by the fabric, the opposite sides of the fabric covering the span will carry a pleat. Stated differently, it is conventional practice to provide drapes and other fabrics which are to span a certain distance with a pleat located at each side edge of the fabric, rather than with a space of unpleated fabric being positioned at this location. In the case of the provision of multiple pinch pleats in a fabric to span a given distance, there will thus be two outside or terminal pleats and a plurality of internal pleats, with each adjacent pair of pleats being separated by an amount of unpleated fabric. Since the pleats, when in place in the fabric, do not effectively cover any significant portion of the distance to be spanned, but may instead each be considered as essentially a line containing overlapped folds of material, the distance to be spanned can be considered as effectively being the sum total of the distances between the several pleats. It may be remarked that it is also a fairly conventional and widespread practice to provide a spacing between pinch plates in drapes and similar fabrics which is about 3 inches in width. In other words, approximately 3 inches separate the pinch pleats from each other. It may further be pointed out that the inclusion of three folds in each of the pinch pleats is conventional, and that each of these folds includes about 2 inches of material which is doubled upon itself to form a bight. In other words, each pinch pleat containing three folds uses 6 inches of material mea sured in a transverse sense, so that one pinch pleat together with one span of unpleated material extending to the next adjacent pinch pleat will require a total of about 9 inches of material in the typical construction under discussion.

Given these preconditions for the manufacture of any fabric containing pinch or French pleats, the present invention then undertakes to reduce the burden and time required to determine where the pleats are to be located, and the amount of material which shall be located in such pleats, so that this procedure entails only a few simple, easily carried out steps, It will be apparent from whathas been said to this point that one may vary the total span of the pleated fabric by adding or sub tracting a little material to that which is included in each pleat which occupies negligible space in the total span, and adding or subtracting a corresponding amount from the unpleated material which separates the pleats. Thus, by changing the dimension of this unpleated material extending between pleats, the total span of the finished pleated fabric is changed. In fact, as a slightly smaller or slightly greater amount of fabric is taken from the unpleated material between pleats, and placed instead in the pleats, the amount by which the dimension of the unpleated intervening material is changed is mul tiplied by he number of pleats in the material less one, to provide an indication of the total change which will be effected in the span of the completed fabric. Based on this consideration, it is possible to provide a very small number of pleat guides different from each other in transverse width by a relatively small amount for the purpose of determining how much material shall be placed in each of the pleats, and therefore, how much unpleated material shall remain between adjacent pleats. Using this small number of pleat guides, substantially any space to be spanned by the fabric can be used as basis for making an attractive pleated fabric which carries the two conventional terminal pleats, and in which each of the pleats is symmetrically spaced along the span of the pleated fabric.

As has been indicated above, the pleat guides A, B, C and D used in a preferred embodiment of the invention have a transverse width between the parallel side edges of 2 13/16, 2 /5, 2 15/16 and 3 inches, respectively, these values being arbitrarily selected for the reason that they approximate quite closely one-half of the 6-inch width of material which it is a widespread practice to include in each pleat, and because of the possibility, with the described variation in transverse width of the several pleat guides, of using only four of such pleat guides to provide an accurate indication of where the pleats are to be located in a given amount of fabric in order to span a given width where the pleated fabric is to be located.

The spacing between the holes or apertures l5 in the measuring device lb has been indicated above to be 9 inches. lt will thus be apparent that if one of the pleat guides is used in conjunction with the measuring device for forming the pleats in a fabric to be pleated, and each pleat guide is used to determine a selected fraction of the total 9 inch width of material which will go into the pleat, then the remainder of the 9 inches of material will go into the unpleated fabric which separates adjacent pleats in the finished product. The selection of a particular pleat guide A, B, C or D will thus, in the final analysis, determine the total span which can be covered by the pleated fabric when it is completed. Conversely, the span which it is desired to cover with a pleated fabric will determine the particular pleat guide which is utilized in determining the location of the several pleats, and therefore the amount of material which shall go into each pleat.

in order to aid the user of the apparatus of the invention in knowing the amount of fabric which is to be used in covering a particular span, and also to aid the seamstress in determining which of the several pleat guides should be selected and used to make the pleated fabric to cover such span, a table is provided which provides pleat guide selection indicia and fabric amount data. In such table, the particular pleat guide A, B, C or D to be used, and the amount of fabric to be used are correlated to the particular span distance which is to be covered by the finished fabric. Although the complete table has not here been reproduced, the following table shows portions of the complete table which will serve to illustrate the manner in which the table is used in the present invention:

Amount of Material (Per Panel) lift-Vs tilt-9t 88% MM; 911 till-it lb-Va Pleat Guide Span Distance Includes 3 inches for return, 3 inches for overlap and 5 inches for side hems.

the seamstress takes note of the amount of fabric which is to be utilized in making the finished product constituting one of two drapes to be drawn so as to meet at the center of the span, and also the particular pleat guide which is to be utilized in the process of the invention. The designated amount of fabric is then cut to size and is hemmed. It should be noted at this point that the values for the amounts of material included in the table (as the example is here presented) allow for 2 it inches at each of the vertical side edges of the material to be used to provide hems at these locations in accordance with conven' tional practice. There is further included in the figures for the amount of material to be used, an allowance of 3 inches to be included in the return of the drapery or pleated fabric, and an amount of 3 inches which is to be included in the overlap. These terms will be familiar to those skilled in the art, and will be understood to refer, in the case of the return, to the mar ginal portion of the final pleated fabric which extends at substantially right angles to the main plane of the pleated fabric and is located at one side edge thereof adjacent the terminal pleat. lln the case of this overlap, overlap, refers to that portion of the drapery or other pleated fabric which partially overlaps, or extends in overlying relation with respect to, the end of a companion pleated fabric where the two pleated fabrics are drawn toward each other or apart for the purpose of closing them over windows or other objects to be covered by the pleated fabrics, or of opening them. (Each of the drapes actually overlaps the other by 1 V2 inch and the other l 542 inch in the overlap extends between the edge of the other drape in the pair and the first pleat.)

After the side hems have been placed in the fabric which has been cut to the particular size specified in the amount of material column, the seamstress then places the measuring device lltll along the top edge of the fabric: (adjacent which the pleats are to be sewn) so that one of the longitudinal edges of the measuring device lltl is coincident with this top marginal edge. The measuring device llll is moved inwardly from one of the hemmed side edges of the fabric until one of the end edges lb or lb of the measuring device is located a prescribed distance from the hemmed side edge of the fabric. The distance prescribed is 2 l3/l6 inches from the hemmed side edge to the end edge of the measuring device where pleat guide A is employed; 2 /8 inches where pleat guide B is em ployed; 2 15/16 inches where pleat guide C is employed; and 3 inches where pleat guide 10 is employed. The reason for this variation in distance at which one of the end edges 16 or lb of the measuring device llll is located from one of the hemmed side edges of the fabric will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds, and it may be commented at this point that this variation is due to the fact that it is desirable to maintain fairly precisely the 3 inch overlap allowance and the 3 inch return allowance in any drape which is to be made.

Having placed the measuring device lib in the described position, small marks 32 are made on the fabric extending a pencil or other marking device through the apertures R5. The measuring device llll is then lifted and placed in a second position such that one of the apertures 15 in the measuring device is directly over or is in registry with one of the marks which was previously made on the fabric. Then another mark is made through the second aperture l5. This process is repeated to provide a series of marks which are spaced from each other by 9 inches, the spacing between the apertures 15, completely across the fabric, with an allowance of 3 inches at each hemmed side edge of the fabric for return and overlap as described.

After the marks have been made in the manner described on the fabric to be pleated using the measuring device llll, then the pleat guide A, B, C or D which has been indicated by the table to be a proper one for use for the particular span which is to be covered, is placed in a position with respect to the fabric 341 illustrated in T lG. 3 of the drawings. in this position, the side edge 28 of the pleat guide, which has appearing adjacent thereto the indicia reading PLACE ON PLEAT FOLD is extended through a mark 32 made on the fabric with the measuring device 10 with the transverse fold line being placed in coincidence with the top marginal edge of the fabric, and the retaining flap 24 being folded back behind the fabric 34. In this position, the side edge 28 extends substantially normal to the top marginal edge of the fabric.

A fold is then made in the fabric 34 extending substantially coincidentally with the side edge 28 of the pleat guide in use, and the fabric is folded back under the pleat guide to the opposite and parallel side edge 30. At this point, the underfolded fabric is stitched to the overlying fabric to form the seam of the pleat. The result will be that approximately twice the amount of material is included in the pleat as the transverse dimension of the pleat guide in use as such dimension is measured between the parallel side edges 28 and 30. Having stitched the fabric along a line immediately adjacent or coincident with the side edge 30 of the pleat guide, the pleat guide is then moved to the next mark 32 established by the measuring device 10, and the process of folding the fabric along one side edge of the pleat guide and then sewing it along the other is repeated. This procedure is carried out until a final mark on the fabric is reached. Now all of the pleats have been stitched into the fabric, and it only remains necessary to form the dimples or folds in each of the pleats which, as has been indicated above, are usually three in number. These folds or dimplesmay be pressed into the fabric, or they may be sewn in position after being folded.

When the several folds in each pleat have been formed and the desired degree of permanency imparted thereto by pressing or tacking, the pleated fabric is completed and is ready for hanging. The result of the use of the apparatus of the invention and the practice of the method hereinbefore described is to provide a pleated fabric which will always exactly cover the measured span within a tolerance of about 1 inch for spans up to 60 inches or thereabouts. In no case, will the pleated fabric contain a lesser amount of material than is required to span the measured distance, and in no case will it contain more than about 1 ya inches excess material, and this latter excess only when a span distance approaching 60 inches is to be spanned. As the seamstress will appreciate, the inclusion of l as inch of extra material over a 60 inch span of the pleated fabric will not be noticeable, and this additional amount will be equally spaced over the entire width of the pleated fabric. It will thus amount to only about one-sixtieth of an inch per inch of fabric as measured along the pleated marginal edge. The pleated fabric will have the desired 3 inch return and 3 inch overlap.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be apparent that the apparatus and method of the invention greatly facilitate the manufacture of custom drapes and other pleated fabric to substantially exact dimensions as may be necessary to cover substantially any preexisting span. The method can be employed without the requirement for complex nd time consuming mathematical calculations.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein described, it will be understood that various changes in the apparatus discussed and illustrated can be effected without departure from the basic principles of the invention. Changes of this type are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming pinch pleats in a fabric comprismg:

a measuring and marking device comprising an elongated,

substantially monoplanar sheet of material having elongated side edges and parallel end edges extending substantially normal to said side edges, said elongated sheet having a first opening formed therethrough and located a distance from one of said end edges which is approximately equal to one-half the width of the material to be included in each pleat, said sheet further having at least 'one additional opening therethrough, said openings being spaced from each other along said sheet in a longitudinal direction by a distance which is equivalent to the amount of material which will be included in each pleat, plus the distance by which the adjacent pleats will be separated whereby said device may be placed on said fabric to be pleated to define location of pleats thereon;

a plurality of pleat guides not exceeding four in number,

each comprising a monoplanar sheet of material having two parallel side edges spaced from each other by a distance equivalent to one-half the transverse dimension of the amount of material to be included in each pleat, and each including aligning means for extending said side edges normal to an edge of the fabric to be pleated, said pleat guides differing from each other in the spacing of said two parallel side edges from each other on the several pleat guides, said spacing of the side edges differing by from about one-fourth inch to about one-sixteenth inch as between any two pleat guides whereby a selected pleat guide may be placed on marks on said fabric made using said measuring and marking device to define the amount of fabric in each pleat; and

a table of pleat guide indicia indicating a specific one of the pleat guides to be used for a given distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric, and when said measuring and marking device is used to mark said fabric.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said measuring and marking device has the openings formed therein spaced from each other by nine inches, and wherein four of said pleat guides are provided and differ from each other in said spacing of the two parallel side edges by uniform mounts of one-sixteenth inch.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said aligning means comprises a retainer flap formed integrally with said monoplanar sheet of material of said pleat guide and folded out of the plane thereof along a fold line extending substantially normal to said side edges.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said table further includes indicia indicating the amount of fabric to be used in making the final pleated fabric to span said given distance.

5. A method for forming pinch pleats in fabric to form a pleated fabric for spanning any distance comprising:

measuring the distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric;

forming the fabric of a transverse width equal to the dimension of the distance to be spanned, plus the sum of the widths of material to be used in the total number of pleats to be formed in the fabric, plus the widths of any fabric to be left unpleated at the ends of the fabric beyond two ter minal pleats; placing a measuring and marking device on the fabric adjacent the marginal edge adjacent which the pleats are to be formed;

by the use of the measuring and marking device, placing a series of spaced marks on the fabric substantially in a line extending substantially parallel to said marginal edge, and spaced from each other along said marginal edge by a distance equivalent to the sum of the distance between said pleats and the width of material in each pleat, said marks lying within the portion of said fabric which is to cover the distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric, and the two marks furtherest separated from each other each being spaced from the opposite side limits of said portion by a distance approximately equivalent to half the width of the amount of material to be used in forming a pleat;

from a plurality of rigid pleat guides, each having parallel side edges defining the transverse width of each pleat guide, and each differing from the others nearest in size thereto in its transverse dimension by an amount of from one-fourth inch to one-sixteenth inch, selecting one of said pleat guides on the basis of the measured distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric so that the fabric, when pleated, using the selected pleat guide, will have pleats immediately adjacent the side boundaries of the portion of said fabric which is to cover the distance to be llll marginal edge of the fabric to thereby measure, by the use of said selected pleat guide, the amount of material to be included in each pleat, and to indicate where each pleat is to be folded and sewn; and sewing the pleats in position in the fabric using the selected pleat guide to locate the seam line.

t =l= t =1

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming pinch pleats in a fabric comprising: a measuring and marking device comprising an elongated, substantially monoplanar sheet of material having elongated side edges and parallel end edges extending substantially normal to said side edges, said elongated sheet having a first opening formed therethrough and located a distance from one of said end edges which is approximately equal to one-half the width of the material to be included in each pleat, said sheet further having at least one additional opening therethrough, said openings being spaced from each other along said sheet in a longitudinal direction by a distance which is equivalent to the amount of material which will be included in each pleat, plus the distance by which the adjacent pleats will be separated whereby said device may be placed on said fabric to be pleated to define location of pleats thereon; a plurality of pleat guides not exceeding four in number, each comprising a monoplanar sheet of material having two parallel side edges spaced from each other by a distance equivalent to one-half the transverse dimension of the amount of material to be included in each pleat, and each including aligning means for extending said side edges normal to an edge of the fabric to be pleated, said pleat guides differing from each other in the spacing of said two parallel side edges from each other on the several pleat guides, said spacing of the side edges differing by from about one-fourth inch to about one-sixteenth inch as between any two pleat guides whereby a selected pleat guide may be placed on marks on said fabric made using said measuring and marking device to define the amount of fabric in each pleat; and a table of pleat guide indicia indicating a specific one of the pleat guides to be used for a given distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric, and when said measuring and marking device is used to mark said fabric.

5. A method for forming pinch pleats in fabric to form a pleated fabric for spanning any distance comprising: measuring the distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric; forming the fabric of a transverse width equal to the dimension of the distance to be spanned, plus the sum of the widths of material to be used in the total number of pleats to be formed in the fabric, plus the widths of any fabric to be left unpleated at the ends of the fabric beyond two terminal pleats; placing a measuring and marking device on the fabric adjacent the marginal edge adjacent which the pleats are to be formed; by the use of the measuring and marking device, placing a series of spaced marks on the fabric substantially in a line extending substantially parallel to said marginal edge, and spaced from each other along said marginal edge by a distance equivalent to the sum of the distance between said pleats and the width of material in each pleat, said marks lying within the portion of said fabric which is to cover the distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric, and the two marks furtherest separated from each other each being spaced from the opposite side limits of said portion by a distance approximately equivalent to half the width of the amount of material to be used in forming a pleat; from a plurality of rigid pleat guides, each having parallel side edges defining the transverse width of each pleat guide, and each differing from the others nearest in size thereto in its transverse dimension by an amount of from one-fourth inch To one-sixteenth inch, selecting one of said pleat guides on the basis of the measured distance to be spanned by the pleated fabric so that the fabric, when pleated, using the selected pleat guide, will have pleats immediately adjacent the side boundaries of the portion of said fabric which is to cover the distance to be spanned, and the pleats in said fabric will be uniformly spaced from each other; placing said selected pleat guide on said fabric adjacent each of said marks in consecutive sequence, with the placement of the selected pleat guide adjacent each mark being such that one of said side edges of the pleat guide extends through the respective mark and normal to said marginal edge of the fabric to thereby measure, by the use of said selected pleat guide, the amount of material to be included in each pleat, and to indicate where each pleat is to be folded and sewn; and sewing the pleats in position in the fabric using the selected pleat guide to locate the seam line.