WO2024134163A1 - Improvements to apparatus for the application of resin along a crease line of a garment - Google Patents

Improvements to apparatus for the application of resin along a crease line of a garment Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024134163A1
WO2024134163A1 PCT/GB2023/053271 GB2023053271W WO2024134163A1 WO 2024134163 A1 WO2024134163 A1 WO 2024134163A1 GB 2023053271 W GB2023053271 W GB 2023053271W WO 2024134163 A1 WO2024134163 A1 WO 2024134163A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
crease line
resin
rotatable member
guide means
applicator
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2023/053271
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kenneth Houlbrook
Shaun CARTER
Original Assignee
Supercrease Limited
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Supercrease Limited filed Critical Supercrease Limited
Publication of WO2024134163A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024134163A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41—WEARING APPAREL
    • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D1/00—Garments
    • A41D1/06—Trousers
    • A41D1/10—Means for maintaining the crease
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/00503—Details of the outlet element
    • B05C17/00516—Shape or geometry of the outlet orifice or the outlet element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/00589—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes comprising a guiding rotating element, e.g. a wheel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
    • B05C17/005—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes
    • B05C17/015—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces for discharging material from a reservoir or container located in or on the hand tool through an outlet orifice by pressure without using surface contacting members like pads or brushes with pneumatically or hydraulically actuated piston or the like

Definitions

  • the invention to which this application relates is apparatus for use in the application of a resin along a crease line of a garment, with the resin being applied in a fluid condition and then, once applied, curing, to harden and hence act to retain the crease in the garment for a longer period of time than would normally be expected if the resin was not applied.
  • the resin is applied along the base of the crease, which is typically on the inside surface of the garment, and is the base of an inverted V or a gullwing shaped crease line.
  • the crease is typically supported along a V or gull wing shaped notch formed along a support table and onto which the garment is placed. It is typically the applicator which is moved along an axis which is parallel with the crease line so as to apply the resin to, and substantially along the length of, the crease line.
  • the applicator can be provided with guide means which are located so as to move along the crease line, in advance of the dispensing aperture for the resin, so as to allow improved guidance of the applicator and hence more accurate application of the resin material along the base of the crease.
  • the guide means which move along the base of the crease are typically in the form of skis or skids which have a relatively narrow face to be located on the base of the crease. It is also known to provide one of said guide means as a wheel rather than a ski or skid with the wheel being located at one end of the cartridge. The It is also know to provide a series of wheels on a carrier connectable with an applicator cartridge and which are located onto the garment on opposing sides of the crease line as the rein is applied along the crease line.
  • An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a means for providing apparatus to allow the improved application of a resin material, when in a fluid condition, along a crease line of a garment so as to provide a more uniform application of the resin material and, in turn, an improved quality of maintenance of the crease in the garment.
  • applicator apparatus for the application of a resin material along a crease line of a garment
  • said applicator apparatus including a body in, or to, which said resin material is provided and the body includes, or is connected to, a dispensing aperture to allow the supply of said resin through the dispensing aperture onto said crease line as the applicator apparatus is moved along said crease line and wherein said applicator apparatus includes a plurality of guide means provided at spaced locations with respect to said body so as to contact with the crease line at spaced apart locations in advance of the said dispensing aperture and allow guided movement of the applicator apparatus during the application of the resin and wherein at least one of the said guide means includes location means and a rotatable member and it is the rotatable member which rotates and contacts with the said crease line, during the application of the the resin therealong.
  • At least two of the guide means are provided with rotatable members and preferably all of the guide means include rotatable members.
  • the rotatable members are formed as discs and are provided to rotate with respect to said location means about an axis positioned substantially centrally of said disc.
  • the said location mean depend between the body and the said rotatable member.
  • said location means are formed as integral parts of the applicator. Most typically as part of the body, or alternatively, are provided as part of a mounting arrangement which can be selectively positioned on said applicator and again most typically the body of the applicator. In whichever embodiment, typically the rotatable member is located with the location means when the applicator is assembled.
  • the peripheral edge of the rotatable member has a reduced width with respect to the remainder of the rotatable member so as to allow the rotatable member to contact with the base of the crease line.
  • side walls which depend inwardly from said peripheral edge are v shaped so as to sit and contact and further guide the cartridge with respect to the side walls of the crease.
  • guide means which are positioned adjacent to the dispensing aperture, are located at a predetermined distance from the dispensing aperture so as to improve the resistance of the cartridge to lift and move away from the crease line when the guide means contact with an obstruction such as, for example, a hem line which crosses the crease line.
  • the applicator is a cartridge and the body forms a reservoir cavity in which a quantity of the resin material is retained.
  • the guide means are positioned to lie along substantially the same axis and said axis is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge and/ or the direction of movement of the applicator along the crease line as resin is applied there along.
  • the dispensing aperture is provided as an elongate slot and the longitudinal axis of said elongated slot is parallel with the said axis along which the guide means are located so to be substantially in line therewith.
  • the distance of the axis of rotation of a first rotatable member from the body of the cartridge is greater than the distance of the rotatable axis of a second rotatable member from the underside of the cartridge body.
  • the cartridge is provided with a means for introducing a pressurised fluid to the reservoir of the cartridge so as to force said resin towards the dispensing aperture via a piston mounted in the reservoir and which is moved under the influence of the pressurised fluid.
  • the resin which is used is of the "flowable” or “self levelling” composition rather than the "non-slump” resin composition.
  • the distance from the guide means positioned closest to the dispensing aperture nib of the body or cartridge and the centre of the elongate slot of the nib through which the resin is applied is selected such as to reduce the possibility of excessive resin being applied to a particular location on the crease line and which may be conventionally be caused by a hem or protrusion over which the crease line and applicator passes.
  • FIGS. la— d illustrate an applicator cartridge in accordance with one embodiment of the invention
  • Figures 2a-c illustrate an embodiment of a rotatable member of the guide means of the applicator apparatus
  • Figures 3a-b illustrate applicator apparatus in one embodiment formed using the components of Figures la-2c;
  • Figures 4a-b illustrate a further embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention;
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGS. 6a-e illustrate a further embodiment of the cartridge in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the applicator apparatus in use to apply the resin material onto the garment crease line
  • Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the guide means and nib of the cartridge
  • FIGS 9a-e illustrate further embodiments of the arrangement of the guide means located closer to the nib of the resin application means.
  • applicator apparatus 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in use for applying a resin material 3 along a crease line 5 of a garment 4 as shown in Figure 7.
  • the garment is provided “inside out” such that the inner wall 7 of the garment is positioned so that the crease line 5 has a V shape or gullwing shape.
  • the crease line 5 is positioned along a groove 9 provided in a support table 6 with the crease line 5 of the garment 8 extending along the longitudinal axis of the groove.
  • the provision of the groove 9 encourages the crease line 5 to be retained in position and allows for a more accurate application of the resin material 3 therealong.
  • the resin should be applied along the base 10 of the V of the crease line 5 as it is found that this allows the crease line to be maintained in the garment for the maximum period of time once the resin has cured along the base thereof. It is found that if the resin is applied along one or both of the side walls of the crease line then the visual appearance of the crease line is adversely affected and the maintenance of the crease line is reduced.
  • the applicator apparatus 2 of the current invention is shown in one embodiment and in more detail in Figures la-d and 3a-b typically includes a body 14 which, in the embodiments shown has a cavity 16 therein shown in broken lines in Figures la and b and which is at least partially filled with the resin material in a fluid condition.
  • a pressurised fluid such as air is introduced typically from an air pump or other pressurized fluid source.
  • the pressurised fluid is introduced to a sufficient pressure so as to cause the movement of a piston member progressively along the cartridge longitudinal axis in the direction of arrow 22.
  • the fluid resin is forced towards a nib 24 which is typically provided with a dispensing aperture or nozzle 26 which has an elongate slot 28 with a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis 30 of the cartridge.
  • the resin leaves the cartridge nib through the elongate slot 28 to be applied along the crease line 5 as the applicator 2 is moved along the crease line in the direction of arrow 10.
  • the user simultaneously operates the pressurised fluid source to cause pressurised fluid to enter the cavity and moves the cartridge linearly along the crease line to apply the resin material which is emitted from the slot 28 along the crease line.
  • the applicator apparatus also includes guide means 32 which in the embodiments of Figures la-3b, 4a-b and 5 includes location means 34 formed integrally with the cartridge or body or alternatively, and as shown in Figures 6a-e the guide means 32 are provided on a holder 36 which in turn is selectively connectable with the cartridge or body.
  • the guide means 32 form the means of contact between the applicator body 14 and the crease line 5 and are moved along the crease line and in advance of the elongate slot 28 from which the resin is emitted.
  • each guide means 32 includes at least one rotatable member 36 which is provided to be fitted to a location means 34 and so as to be rotatable about an axis 38.
  • the rotatable members have a central portion 40 and an edge portion 42 around the periphery of the same and the edge portion tapers inwardly towards the periphery 44 in order to allow the same to locate in the base of the crease line.
  • the rotatable member 36 is inserted, typically as a snap fit, into the pairs of engaging arms 46, 48 and 46’, 48’ of the location means 34 and are retained in position whilst still free to be rotatable with respect thereto.
  • the guide means 32 are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis 30 of the body or cartridge and as integral parts of the same and may be moulded with the body or cartridge from plastics material.
  • the rotatable members can again be inserted into the pairs of engaging arms of the location means 34 and the mounting cradle 56 is provided with a base member 50 on which the guide means 32 are formed and depending members 52, 54 which, engage with the body 14 and, when engaged, lie to respective sides of the cartridge or body 14 so as to maintain the cradle in a fixed engagement with the cartridge or body during use to apply resin therefrom.
  • One or more protrusions or other locating features may be provided on the body 14 in order to ensure that the guide means are provided and held “in line” with the nib and elongate slot 28.
  • the mounting means is releasable from the body or cartridge then the mounting means of this embodiment is typically provided for multiple uses and the materials used to form the guide means and mounting means may be different to, and longer lasting than, the material used to form the single use cartridge.
  • the guide means 32’ which are positioned adjacent to the nib 24 are provided with the location means 34’ formed by arms 46’, 48’ for the wheel formed as an integral part of the nib and, in turn, an integral part of the cartridge or the mounting means, as shown in Figure 8 which illustrates this further embodiment of the invention in which the body is formed by the cartridge. It is found that this embodiment with the guide means location means as part of the nib enables strengthening of this part of the cartridge.
  • the relative position of the nib 24 and the adjacent guide means 32’ is reversed such that the nib 24 now lies in front of the guide means 32’ with respect to the direction of travel 58 of the cartridge along the garment when in use.
  • This embodiment allows the ability for the resin to be applied up to the end of the garment crease line and prior to the guide means 32’ raising up and over a hemline of the garment, which is typically close to the end of the crease line, and thereby removes the problem created by the guide means moving over the hem.
  • a blocking means 66 may be provided downstream of the position of the nib inside the cavity and in one embodiment the blocking means may simply be a thicker end wall or an insert which is positioned in the cartridge. This embodiment may again allow the possibility of a smoother application of the resin material.
  • the rotatable member 36’ is formed so as to have contact faces 64, which contact with the upper contact faces 66 of the support table 6 and are positioned so as to be located on either side of the groove 9 on the support table along which the garment crease line is located when the resin 68 is being applied and so the rotatable member 36’ does not contact with the resin 68 even though it has been applied along the crease line in advance of the rotatable member 36’.
  • FIG. 9d there is shown a rotatable member 36’ which can be used and which is adapted from the rotatable member shown in Figures 2a-c in that the body portion 40 is retained but there is no longer a narrowing or tapering edge portion 42.
  • peripheral edge 44 of the rotatable member 36’ is only capable of contacting with the opposing side walls 70, 72 of the crease line 5 of the garment and not the base 74 along which the resin 68 has been applied, as the peripheral edge 44 is too wide and so the wheel does not contact with the resin as illustrated in Figure 9e which shows the lower half of the rotatable member 36’ of Figure 9d and the manner in which the peripheral edge 44 can only contact the respective side walls 70,72 of the crease line 5.
  • At least one of the said guide means includes location means and a rotatable member and it is the rotatable member which rotates and contacts with the said crease line during the application of the resin therealong. improves the accuracy of application of the resin material to the base of the crease line on the surface of the garment which faces inwardly towards the wearer when the garment is worn.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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Abstract

The invention relates to applicator apparatus for the application of a resin material along a crease line of a garment, said applicator apparatus including a body in, or to, which said resin material is provided and the body includes, or is connected to, a dispensing aperture to allow the supply of said resin through the dispensing aperture onto said crease line as the applicator apparatus is moved along said crease line. The applicator apparatus includes a plurality of guide means provided at spaced locations with respect to said body so as to contact with the crease line at spaced apart locations in advance of the said dispensing aperture. At least one of the said guide means includes location means and a rotatable member and it is the rotatable member which rotates and contacts with the said crease line, during the application of the resin therealong so as to improve the accuracy of application of the resin material to the base of the crease line on the surface of the garment which faces inwardly towards the wearer when the garment is worn.

Description

Improvements to apparatus for the application of resin along a crease line of a garment
The invention to which this application relates is apparatus for use in the application of a resin along a crease line of a garment, with the resin being applied in a fluid condition and then, once applied, curing, to harden and hence act to retain the crease in the garment for a longer period of time than would normally be expected if the resin was not applied.
The use of a line of resin applied along the base of a crease line of a garment, in order to retain the form of the crease for a longer period of time, is known and the transfer and application of the resin from a reservoir of resin held, for example, in a cartridge, is also known, with relative movement between the garment and applicator allowing a ribbon of the resin to be applied along the base of the crease line.
In order for the resin to be effective, it is important that the resin is applied along the base of the crease, which is typically on the inside surface of the garment, and is the base of an inverted V or a gullwing shaped crease line. The crease is typically supported along a V or gull wing shaped notch formed along a support table and onto which the garment is placed. It is typically the applicator which is moved along an axis which is parallel with the crease line so as to apply the resin to, and substantially along the length of, the crease line. The applicator can be provided with guide means which are located so as to move along the crease line, in advance of the dispensing aperture for the resin, so as to allow improved guidance of the applicator and hence more accurate application of the resin material along the base of the crease. The guide means which move along the base of the crease, are typically in the form of skis or skids which have a relatively narrow face to be located on the base of the crease. It is also known to provide one of said guide means as a wheel rather than a ski or skid with the wheel being located at one end of the cartridge. The It is also know to provide a series of wheels on a carrier connectable with an applicator cartridge and which are located onto the garment on opposing sides of the crease line as the rein is applied along the crease line.
In all these possible embodiments, it is found that problems can occur when the resin is applied. One known problem is that when the applicator guide means pass over an obstacle on the crease line, such as passing over a hem line of the garment and/or when the garment is formed of a particular type of fabric such as, for example, relatively light and/ or elasticated fabric, the garment becomes gathered or bunched up by the movement of the applicator along the crease line. This can result in the resin not being applied to portions of the crease which may be masked by other portions of the garment and/ or a relatively uneven application of the resin along the crease line can occur which can reduce the effectiveness of the resin and prevent the maintenance of a relatively neat ribbon of resin and hence crease line along the garment.
An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a means for providing apparatus to allow the improved application of a resin material, when in a fluid condition, along a crease line of a garment so as to provide a more uniform application of the resin material and, in turn, an improved quality of maintenance of the crease in the garment. In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided applicator apparatus for the application of a resin material along a crease line of a garment, said applicator apparatus including a body in, or to, which said resin material is provided and the body includes, or is connected to, a dispensing aperture to allow the supply of said resin through the dispensing aperture onto said crease line as the applicator apparatus is moved along said crease line and wherein said applicator apparatus includes a plurality of guide means provided at spaced locations with respect to said body so as to contact with the crease line at spaced apart locations in advance of the said dispensing aperture and allow guided movement of the applicator apparatus during the application of the resin and wherein at least one of the said guide means includes location means and a rotatable member and it is the rotatable member which rotates and contacts with the said crease line, during the application of the the resin therealong.
In one embodiment, at least two of the guide means are provided with rotatable members and preferably all of the guide means include rotatable members. Typically, the rotatable members are formed as discs and are provided to rotate with respect to said location means about an axis positioned substantially centrally of said disc.
In one embodiment, the said location mean depend between the body and the said rotatable member.
In one embodiment, said location means are formed as integral parts of the applicator. Most typically as part of the body, or alternatively, are provided as part of a mounting arrangement which can be selectively positioned on said applicator and again most typically the body of the applicator. In whichever embodiment, typically the rotatable member is located with the location means when the applicator is assembled.
Typically, the peripheral edge of the rotatable member has a reduced width with respect to the remainder of the rotatable member so as to allow the rotatable member to contact with the base of the crease line. Furthermore, side walls which depend inwardly from said peripheral edge are v shaped so as to sit and contact and further guide the cartridge with respect to the side walls of the crease.
In one embodiment, guide means which are positioned adjacent to the dispensing aperture, are located at a predetermined distance from the dispensing aperture so as to improve the resistance of the cartridge to lift and move away from the crease line when the guide means contact with an obstruction such as, for example, a hem line which crosses the crease line.
Typically, the applicator is a cartridge and the body forms a reservoir cavity in which a quantity of the resin material is retained.
In one embodiment the guide means are positioned to lie along substantially the same axis and said axis is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge and/ or the direction of movement of the applicator along the crease line as resin is applied there along.
Typically the dispensing aperture is provided as an elongate slot and the longitudinal axis of said elongated slot is parallel with the said axis along which the guide means are located so to be substantially in line therewith. In one embodiment the distance of the axis of rotation of a first rotatable member from the body of the cartridge, is greater than the distance of the rotatable axis of a second rotatable member from the underside of the cartridge body.
In one embodiment, the cartridge is provided with a means for introducing a pressurised fluid to the reservoir of the cartridge so as to force said resin towards the dispensing aperture via a piston mounted in the reservoir and which is moved under the influence of the pressurised fluid.
Typically the resin which is used is of the "flowable" or "self levelling" composition rather than the "non-slump" resin composition.
In one embodiment the distance from the guide means positioned closest to the dispensing aperture nib of the body or cartridge and the centre of the elongate slot of the nib through which the resin is applied is selected such as to reduce the possibility of excessive resin being applied to a particular location on the crease line and which may be conventionally be caused by a hem or protrusion over which the crease line and applicator passes.
Figures la— d illustrate an applicator cartridge in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figures 2a-c illustrate an embodiment of a rotatable member of the guide means of the applicator apparatus;
Figures 3a-b illustrate applicator apparatus in one embodiment formed using the components of Figures la-2c; Figures 4a-b illustrate a further embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention;
Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the applicator in accordance with the invention;
Figures 6a-e illustrate a further embodiment of the cartridge in accordance with the invention;
Figure 7 illustrates the applicator apparatus in use to apply the resin material onto the garment crease line;
Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the guide means and nib of the cartridge; and
Figures 9a-e illustrate further embodiments of the arrangement of the guide means located closer to the nib of the resin application means.
Referring firstly to Figures 3a-b there is illustrated applicator apparatus 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in use for applying a resin material 3 along a crease line 5 of a garment 4 as shown in Figure 7. In order to achieve the resin application, the garment is provided “inside out” such that the inner wall 7 of the garment is positioned so that the crease line 5 has a V shape or gullwing shape. The crease line 5 is positioned along a groove 9 provided in a support table 6 with the crease line 5 of the garment 8 extending along the longitudinal axis of the groove. The provision of the groove 9 encourages the crease line 5 to be retained in position and allows for a more accurate application of the resin material 3 therealong. In order for the resin material 3 to be particularly effective, the resin should be applied along the base 10 of the V of the crease line 5 as it is found that this allows the crease line to be maintained in the garment for the maximum period of time once the resin has cured along the base thereof. It is found that if the resin is applied along one or both of the side walls of the crease line then the visual appearance of the crease line is adversely affected and the maintenance of the crease line is reduced.
In practice, it is found that when using conventional applicator apparatus, when the crease line passes across, for example, a hem or a protrusion on the garment, this can cause the temporary increase in the flow of dispensed resin 3 which, in turn, means that the resin is applied along both the base and side walls of the crease line and which, as previously discussed, can affect the visual appearance of the crease line.
The applicator apparatus 2 of the current invention is shown in one embodiment and in more detail in Figures la-d and 3a-b typically includes a body 14 which, in the embodiments shown has a cavity 16 therein shown in broken lines in Figures la and b and which is at least partially filled with the resin material in a fluid condition. At one end of the cartridge, there is provided an entrance port 20 through which a pressurised fluid such as air is introduced typically from an air pump or other pressurized fluid source. The pressurised fluid is introduced to a sufficient pressure so as to cause the movement of a piston member progressively along the cartridge longitudinal axis in the direction of arrow 22. As the piston moves along the cavity, the fluid resin is forced towards a nib 24 which is typically provided with a dispensing aperture or nozzle 26 which has an elongate slot 28 with a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis 30 of the cartridge. The resin leaves the cartridge nib through the elongate slot 28 to be applied along the crease line 5 as the applicator 2 is moved along the crease line in the direction of arrow 10. Thus, when applying the resin the user simultaneously operates the pressurised fluid source to cause pressurised fluid to enter the cavity and moves the cartridge linearly along the crease line to apply the resin material which is emitted from the slot 28 along the crease line.
The applicator apparatus also includes guide means 32 which in the embodiments of Figures la-3b, 4a-b and 5 includes location means 34 formed integrally with the cartridge or body or alternatively, and as shown in Figures 6a-e the guide means 32 are provided on a holder 36 which in turn is selectively connectable with the cartridge or body. In either arrangement, the guide means 32 form the means of contact between the applicator body 14 and the crease line 5 and are moved along the crease line and in advance of the elongate slot 28 from which the resin is emitted.
As shown, each guide means 32 includes at least one rotatable member 36 which is provided to be fitted to a location means 34 and so as to be rotatable about an axis 38.
Typically, and as shown in Figures 2a-c the rotatable members have a central portion 40 and an edge portion 42 around the periphery of the same and the edge portion tapers inwardly towards the periphery 44 in order to allow the same to locate in the base of the crease line.
The rotatable member 36 is inserted, typically as a snap fit, into the pairs of engaging arms 46, 48 and 46’, 48’ of the location means 34 and are retained in position whilst still free to be rotatable with respect thereto. As shown in the embodiments of Figures la-3b, 4a-b and 5 the guide means 32 are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis 30 of the body or cartridge and as integral parts of the same and may be moulded with the body or cartridge from plastics material.
In Figures 6a-e the rotatable members can again be inserted into the pairs of engaging arms of the location means 34 and the mounting cradle 56 is provided with a base member 50 on which the guide means 32 are formed and depending members 52, 54 which, engage with the body 14 and, when engaged, lie to respective sides of the cartridge or body 14 so as to maintain the cradle in a fixed engagement with the cartridge or body during use to apply resin therefrom. One or more protrusions or other locating features may be provided on the body 14 in order to ensure that the guide means are provided and held “in line” with the nib and elongate slot 28. As, in this embodiment, the mounting means is releasable from the body or cartridge then the mounting means of this embodiment is typically provided for multiple uses and the materials used to form the guide means and mounting means may be different to, and longer lasting than, the material used to form the single use cartridge.
In a further embodiment, the guide means 32’ which are positioned adjacent to the nib 24 are provided with the location means 34’ formed by arms 46’, 48’ for the wheel formed as an integral part of the nib and, in turn, an integral part of the cartridge or the mounting means, as shown in Figure 8 which illustrates this further embodiment of the invention in which the body is formed by the cartridge. It is found that this embodiment with the guide means location means as part of the nib enables strengthening of this part of the cartridge. In a further embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 9a, the relative position of the nib 24 and the adjacent guide means 32’ is reversed such that the nib 24 now lies in front of the guide means 32’ with respect to the direction of travel 58 of the cartridge along the garment when in use. This embodiment allows the ability for the resin to be applied up to the end of the garment crease line and prior to the guide means 32’ raising up and over a hemline of the garment, which is typically close to the end of the crease line, and thereby removes the problem created by the guide means moving over the hem.
In order to avoid the problem of the resin in the cavity 16 being pushed by the movement of the piston 64 so as to flow past the nib dispensing aperture 26 and towards the end 62 of the cartridge and thereby representing an area of unusable resin, a blocking means 66 may be provided downstream of the position of the nib inside the cavity and in one embodiment the blocking means may simply be a thicker end wall or an insert which is positioned in the cartridge. This embodiment may again allow the possibility of a smoother application of the resin material.
Typically, in these embodiments there is a need to ensure that the guide means 34’ rotatable member 36’. In Figures 9b-c the rotatable member 36’ is formed so as to have contact faces 64, which contact with the upper contact faces 66 of the support table 6 and are positioned so as to be located on either side of the groove 9 on the support table along which the garment crease line is located when the resin 68 is being applied and so the rotatable member 36’ does not contact with the resin 68 even though it has been applied along the crease line in advance of the rotatable member 36’. In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 9d there is shown a rotatable member 36’ which can be used and which is adapted from the rotatable member shown in Figures 2a-c in that the body portion 40 is retained but there is no longer a narrowing or tapering edge portion 42. This means that the peripheral edge 44 of the rotatable member 36’ is only capable of contacting with the opposing side walls 70, 72 of the crease line 5 of the garment and not the base 74 along which the resin 68 has been applied, as the peripheral edge 44 is too wide and so the wheel does not contact with the resin as illustrated in Figure 9e which shows the lower half of the rotatable member 36’ of Figure 9d and the manner in which the peripheral edge 44 can only contact the respective side walls 70,72 of the crease line 5.
It should be noted that the embodiments shown in Figure 8 and 9a-e can equally be applied to the cartridge or the mounting means embodiments and/or may be provided as an integral part of a further clip on component to the cartridge such as component 74 shown in Figure 5 which is also used to provide a switch component for operation of the apparatus pumping means and which can be located on the cartridge.
The provision of the apparatus in which at least one of the said guide means includes location means and a rotatable member and it is the rotatable member which rotates and contacts with the said crease line during the application of the resin therealong. improves the accuracy of application of the resin material to the base of the crease line on the surface of the garment which faces inwardly towards the wearer when the garment is worn.

Claims

1. Applicator apparatus for the application of a resin material along a crease line of a garment, said applicator apparatus including a body in, or to, which said resin material is provided and the body includes, or is connected to, a dispensing aperture to allow the supply of said resin through the dispensing aperture onto said crease line as the applicator apparatus is moved along said crease line and wherein said applicator apparatus includes a plurality of guide means provided at spaced locations with respect to said body so as to contact with the crease line at spaced apart locations in advance of the said dispensing aperture and allow guided movement of the applicator apparatus during the application of the resin and wherein at least one of the said guide means includes location means and a rotatable member and it is the rotatable member which rotates and contacts with the said crease line, during the application of the resin therealong.
2.Apparatus according to claim 1 where two or more of the guide means are provided, each having said location means and rotatable member.
3.Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the rotatable member is formed as a disc provided to rotate on said location means about an axis positioned substantially centrally of said disc.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said location means extend between said body and the said rotatable member when the applicator apparatus is formed for use.
5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said location means are formed as integral parts of the said body.
6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1-4 wherein the location means are provided as part of a mounting arrangement selectively positionable on said body.
7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the rotatable member is engaged with the location means when the applicator apparatus is assembled for use.
8.Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the peripheral edge of the rotatable member has a reduced width with respect to the remainder of the rotatable member so as to allow the rotatable member to make contact with the base of the said crease line.
9.Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein side walls of the rotatabe member extend from said peripheral edge towards the axis of rotation and form a substantially V shape in cross section.
10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a first guide means is positioned adjacent to said dispensing aperture and at a predetermined distance from the same dispensing aperture so as to provide resistance to the lifting of the said body and/ or guide means away from the crease line when the said guide means are moving along said crease line.
11 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said body is provided as a cartridge and includes a reservoir cavity in which a quantity of the resin material is retained for subsequent controlled dispensation.
12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the guide means are located along substantially the same axis which is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the said body and/ or direction of movement of the applicator body as resin is applied therefrom along the crease line.
13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the dispensing aperture is provided as an elongate slot and the longitudinal axis of said elongate slot is parallel with the said crease line when resin is applied through the dispening aperture and along the crease line.
14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the distance of the axis of rotation of the rotatable member of a first guide means from the adjacent face of the said body is greater than the distance of the axis of rotation of the rotatable member of a second guide means from the adjacent face of the said body.
15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said resin is of a category known as flowable or self-levelling.
16 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the distance from the guide means positioned closest to the dispensing aperture is selected so as to reduce the possibility of excessive resin being applied at a particular location on the crease line where a hem line of the garment passes across the said crease line.
PCT/GB2023/053271 2022-12-20 2023-12-15 Improvements to apparatus for the application of resin along a crease line of a garment WO2024134163A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2219272.8 2022-12-20
GBGB2219272.8A GB202219272D0 (en) 2022-12-20 2022-12-20 Improvements to apparatus for the application of resin along a crease line of a garment

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WO2024134163A1 true WO2024134163A1 (en) 2024-06-27

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10954626B2 (en) * 2015-06-19 2021-03-23 Advanced Engineering Solutions, Ltd. Apparatus, material and method of applying the same to garments in order to maintain a crease
GB2593034A (en) * 2020-01-09 2021-09-15 Supercrease Ltd Improvements to apparatus for dispensing a fluid material onto a garment

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10954626B2 (en) * 2015-06-19 2021-03-23 Advanced Engineering Solutions, Ltd. Apparatus, material and method of applying the same to garments in order to maintain a crease
GB2593034A (en) * 2020-01-09 2021-09-15 Supercrease Ltd Improvements to apparatus for dispensing a fluid material onto a garment

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GB202319303D0 (en) 2024-01-31

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