COMPOSITE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING GARMENTS

• Main Authors: RABE, GERALD LEIGH, SUKE, PAUL DANIEL, RAJALA, GREGORY JOHN, GEHLING, STEVEN CRAIG
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 01.08.2006
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; APPLIANCES OR METHODS FOR MAKING CLOTHES, e.g. FORDRESS-MAKING, FOR TAILORING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROSTHESES; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WEARING APPAREL; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for use in constructing a garment including a stretched elastic. Specifically, the invention contemplates incorporating stretched elastic into a continuous web, including one or more segments which exert retractive forces in directions counterproductive to the function of either the web, the garment, or both, and nullifying that portion of the stretched elastic which would be counterproductive. The elastics may be cut at appropriate loci. The stretch may be intermittently reduced or eliminated on one or more selected ones of the elastics as the elastics are incorporated into the web. A special coating may be used on the processing rolls to maintain the width dimension of the web at loci disposed after incorporation of elastic stretched across the transverse dimension of the web. Transverse bonds may be formed on the web using a rotary carrying drum, and energy application devices which rotate with the drum, to increase bond forming time.