WO2001027379A1

WO2001027379A1 - A process for stretching articles of clothing

Info

Publication number: WO2001027379A1
Application number: PCT/IT2000/000399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sauro Vandelli
Original assignee: Vandelli Sauro Di Vandelli Sauro
Priority date: 1999-10-08
Filing date: 2000-10-04
Publication date: 2001-04-19
Also published as: ITMO990217A0; ITMO990217A1; AU7946400A

Abstract

The process of claim (1), comprising the following stages: stretching at a predetermined tension an article of clothing (5) of a portion of an article of clothing (5) in at least one direction; spraying the article or portion of clothing with steam; again stretching, at a predetermined tension, the article or part of the article of clothing (5).

Description

A Process for Stretching Articles of Clothing.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of processes for stretching clothes, and means for actuating the process.

Background Art

Specifically, though not exclusively, the invention is usefully applicable to solving the problem of restoring clothes or parts thereof to their original sizes after washing has caused shrinkage.

For example, the process can be advantageously used for stretching the collars of shirts or the waistband of jeans-type trousers up until a whole size is gained.

An advantage of the invention is that it is easy to use. Disclosure of Invention

These aims and advantages and others besides are all attained by the present invention, as it is characterised in the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment, figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a part of a second embodiment; figures 3a and 3b show, in enlarged scale and in two different positions, a schematic section of the second embodiment, made in a perpendicular direction to the hollow cylindrical seatings destined to constitute the gripping organs for the clothes; figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a third embodiment, figure 5 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment; figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a part of a fifth embodiment; figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of part of a sixth embodiment.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures of the drawings, the process of the invention is applicable for stretching articles of clothing 5 made of textile materials, and comprises the following stages: a) stretching the article of clothing or part thereof at a predetermined tension in at least one direction; b) spraying the stretched part of clothing with steam; c) stretching the article of clothing 5 or part thereof again, at a predetermined tension.

Stage b) is preferably done in combination with a mechanical stretching action which, as illustrated in figure 1, can be carried out with a normal steam iron 12.

In concrete terms, the process can be actuated by means of appropriate equipment.

A first embodiment for the equipment for actuating the process comprises two gripping organs for taking hold of portions of the article of clothing 5, and means for stretching the part of clothing 5 to be stretched and gripped between the two gripping organs, which means for stretching are essentially constituted by a mechanism which enables the gripping organs to be positioned at predetermined distances.

The gripping organs comprise two bodies 1 in which two hollow cylindrical seatings 2 are afforded, which seatings 2 exhibit openings 3, parallel to the generatrices of which rods 4 can be positioned, with a certain degree of play, but whose introduction and extraction from the hollow seatings 2 can only occur in an axial direction.

The size of each of the hollow cylindrical seatings 2 is calculated so that it can interact with the rods 4 in such a way as to house the rods 4 internally, plus at least that part of a portion of an article of clothing 4 which is wrapped around the rods 4.

The way the clothing is gripped is very simple. A flap of the part of clothing 5 is introduced into the single hollow seating 2, after which the rod 4 is inserted. The rod 4 has transversal dimensions which exceed those of the opening 3; thus by creating a tension on the part of the article of clothing 5 which is comprised between the two separate gripping organs, and the flaps of the article of clothing 5 which are wound about the rod 4, the rod is forced against the opening 3 and is gripped between the rod 4 and the hollow cylindrical seating 2. The rods 4 are preferably provided with organs able to interact with the openings 3 in order to prevent any rotation of the rods 4 internally of the hollow seatings 2 they are housed in. The two bodies 1 are reciprocally connected by means of a screw mechanism 6 which can be externally manoeuvred, so mat the two bodies 1 can be positioned and therefore so can the relative hollow cylindrical seatings 2, at a predetermined reciprocal distance. This enables a desired degree of stretch (of the article of clothing 5) to be obtained between the gripping organs constituted by the seatings 2 and the relative rods 4.

The screw mechanism 6 can be easily actuated from the outside by a handle 13. Once the gripping and tensioning of the portion of the article of clothing 5 has been carried out, by using a simple steam iron 12 the portion of clothing 5 can be sprayed with steam at the same time as the same article of clothing 5 is stretched. This combined action produces a stretching of the portion of article of clothing 5 comprised between the two gripping organs. In the embodiment illustrated in figures 2, 3a and 3b, a different geometric configuration of the seatings 2 and the rod 4 section is shown. In the embodiment of figure 4 the two bodies 1 affording two hollow cylindrical seatings 2 are connected one to the other by at least one screw 7 which is axially constrained to one of the bodies 1, while being free to rotate, but coupled by a nut-screw to the other body 1. A helix spring 8 is coaxial to the part of the screw 7 comprised between the two bodies 1 to press them apart and thus maintain a constant tension between the portion of clothing 5 stretched between the bodies 1. The embodiment of figure 5 shows an apparatus in which the distancing between the two bodies 1 is achieved by means of a mechanical or hydraulic cylinder.

In the embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8, other embodiments are illustrated, which are characterised (with respect to the previous embodiments) by the fact that the gripping organs are constituted by simple clamps 14. In a further embodiment, partially illustrated in figure 6, the means for stretching the portion of clothing 5 gripped between the two gripping organs comprise at least one roller 9 which is mounted rotatably on a frame 10 at a fixed distance from the other gripping organ, and affords a radial slit 11 which the article of clothing 5 can be inserted into. The article of clothing 5 can be introduced into the slit 11, with the clothing then being wound around the roller 9 to achieve the grip.

A ratchet gear 12 or similar is used to block and unblock the roller 9 in predetermined angular positions.

Claims

Claims.

1). A process for stretching articles of clothing, comprising the following stages: a) stretching at a predetermined tension an article of clothing or a portion of an article of clothing in at least one direction; b) spraying the article or portion of clothing with steam.

2). The process of claim 1, comprising the following stages: a) stretching at a predetermined tension an article of clothing of a portion of an article of clothing in at least one direction; b) spraying the article or portion of clothing with steam; c) again stretching, at a predetermined tension, the article or part of the article of clothing.

3). The process of claim 1 or 2, wherein stage b) is done contemporaneously with a mechanical stretching action.

4). The process of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the process is carried out for stretching articles of clothing made of textile materials.

5). An apparatus for stretching articles of clothing in accordance with the process of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises: two gripping organs for gripping portions of the article of clothing (5); there being provided means for stretching the article of clothing (5) to be stretched and gripped between the gripping organs. 6). The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for stretching the article of clothing (5) gripped between the two gripping organs comprise at least one mechanism for positioning the two gripping organs at predetermined reciprocal distances.

7). The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gripping organs comprise two bodies (1) which afford two hollow cylindrical seatings (2) which in turn afford openings (3) which are parallel to the generatrices of the seatings (2); in which openings (3) rods (4) can be housed, with a predetermined play, an insertion and extraction of which rods (4) from the seatings (2) can occur only in an axial direction; each of the hollow cylindrical seatings (2) being of such a dimension with respect to each of the rods (4) as to be able to house a rod (4) of the rods (4) internally thereof; a portion of the article of clothing (5) being at least partially wound about each of the rods (4).

8). The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two bodies (1) are connected one to the other by a screw (6) mechanism, which can be manoeuvred externally and by means of which the two bodies (1), and therefore the relative hollow cylindrical seatings (2), can be positioned at a predetermined reciprocal distance.

9). The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two bodies (1) affording the two hollow cylindrical seatings (2) are reciprocally connected by at least one screw (7) which is axially constrained to one of the bodies (1) and is freely rotatable, while being coupled with a screw nut at another end thereof; a helix spring (8) operating coaxially at a part of the screw (7) comprised between the two bodies (1) in order to produce a distancing of the two bodies (1). 10). The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for stretching the portion of clothing to be stretched and gripped between the two gripping organs comprise at least one roller (9) which roller (9) is mounted rotatably on a frame (10) at a fixed distance from another of the two gripping organs and is provided with a radial slit (11) into which the article of clothing (5) can be introduced; a mechanical device being provided to block and unblock the roller (9) in predetermined angular positions.

11). The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mechanical device for blocking and unblocking the roller (9) in predetermined angular positions is a ratchet gear (12).

12) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the two gripping organs are constituted by two clamps (14).