VALLI ANTONIO FRANCESCO (IT)
| WO1996022009A2 | 1996-07-25 | |||
| WO1992016119A1 | 1992-10-01 |
| US4200937A | 1980-05-06 | |||
| US20060097016A1 | 2006-05-11 | |||
| EP0417659A1 | 1991-03-20 | |||
| EP1433886A2 | 2004-06-30 | |||
| GB1126028A | 1968-09-05 | |||
| US1994317A | 1935-03-12 | |||
| US2236306A | 1941-03-25 | |||
| EP1106726A2 | 2001-06-13 |
| CLAIMS
1. A monolithic sleeve formed from a jointless continuous membrane of semi-closed form, for use in specific treatments of articles of clothing or parts thereof by rendering them, when inserted into the article to be treated, taut and swollen by the pressure of a gas.
2. A monolithic sleeve as claimed in claim 1 , obtained by immersing a mould into an elastomer in liquid form, followed by setting of the covering layer, which is then detached from the mould. 3. A monolithic sleeve as claimed in claim 1 , obtained by slush moulding.
4. A monolithic sleeve as claimed in claim 1 , obtained by spraying a liquid elastomer onto a mould, followed by setting of the covering layer, which is then detached from the mould. 5. A monolithic sleeve obtained as claimed in claims from 1 to 4, of fibre-reinforced polymer material.
6. A monolithic sleeve obtained as claimed in claims from 1 to 4, with thickness variations from point to point, increased in those regions in which strength is required to be greater or deformability less.
7. A monolithic sleeve obtained as claimed in claims from 1 to 4, wherein its surface is protected by a coating which increases its resistance to abrasion or cutting.
8. A monolithic sleeve obtained as claimed in claims from 1 to 7, of cylindrical geometry.
9. A monolithic sleeve obtained as claimed in claims from 1 to 8, with the geometry of a solid of revolution.
10. A monolithic sleeve obtained as claimed in claims from 1 to 8, with any closed or semi-closed or variously branched curved surface, with or without projections to form abrasion regions of determined pattern, and letters, numbers, symbols or trademarks thereon.
11. Use of the monolithic sleeve obtained as claimed in claim 1 , in the process of accelerated ageing, sanding, hand screeping and/or machine screeping, marking by laser, cutting, bleaching of regions of trousers, jackets or waistcoats of jeans fabric or articles similar thereto, and streaking and sizing of articles of clothing in general. |
MONOLITHIC SLEEVE TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CLOTHINGS
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to monolithic sleeve to be used in the manufacture of clothings.
These sleeves are used in the ageing treatment of trousers of jeans fabric or similar clothes or parts thereof, but are also suitable for similar uses in which the article of clothing or a part thereof is maintained taut about an adaptable form during treatment. An object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve of improved type compared with those known in the art.
This and other objects are attained according to the present invention by a monolithic sleeve formed from a jointless continuous membrane of semi-closed form, for use in specific treatments of articles of clothing or parts thereof by rendering them, when inserted into the article to be treated, taut and swollen by the pressure of a gas. Further characteristics of the invention are described in the dependent claims. This type of sleeve, maintained swollen according to the invention by the pressure of air or other compressed gas, being formed of a weldless continuous surface, presents strength and durability characteristics far superior than those sleeves produced by other methods which comprise welding the sleeve, obtained from a flat sheet, along a generatrix. As stated, the sleeve is a cylindrically shaped continuous surface,
without joints of any kind, of a solid of revolution of suitable geometry, of closed or semi-closed curved forms, or can be produced in different shapes, for example of Y shape; after being closed at its ends it is inserted into the article of clothing and swollen by the pressure of a gas such as air, to maintain taut that surface of the article or part thereof to be treated.
After treatment, the pressure in the sleeve is removed and the sleeve is withdrawn from the article, to be reused for many further treatment cycles. Contrary to the sleeves obtained by other methods for these particular treatments, the proposed invention has proved able to withstand the treatments without being perforated or torn, to the extent of being reusable many times. The sleeve is formed of elastomeric material by immersing the mould into the elastomer in liquid form, either by slush moulding or by spraying the elastomeric material onto the mould. The indicated production processes also enable manufacturing economies and, as stated, the ability to obtain almost unlimited different geometries, extremely difficult or impossible to obtain by shaping and welding a flat sheet.
In a constructional variant, these sleeves can be formed of fibre- reinforced flexible polymers or impregnated fabrics such as to be able to contain a pressurized gas, or again the sleeves can be protected by a coating which increases their resistance to abrasion, tearing or cutting.
In the case of immersing the mould in the liquid elastomer, the reinforcement, in particular for the end parts of the sleeve where it is fixed to the machine, can be obtained for example by using socking of elastic fabric. In contrast, in the case of the spraying method, synthetic or natural fibres can be inserted into the elastomer to be sprayed. The outer surface of the sleeve can be protected by a coating which increases its resistance to abrasion or cutting. This is achieved by a further immersion into, or spraying of, elastomers having different characteristics.
Moreover, by using the spray method, a further constructional variant can be obtained in which the sleeve thickness, normally between 1 and 4 mm, is increased in specific points where strength is required to be greater or deformability less, by effecting several spraying operations.
Consequently the proposed manufacturing method has innumerable advantages compared with the current method: geometries other than cylindrical (obligatory if starting from a sheet which is then sewn or welded along a generatrix) are possible, surface thickness variations are possible, fabrics, meshes or fibres can be incorporated to reinforce the product; moreover the product obtained, without sewing seams and/or welds, is much more resistant without undergoing tearing or perforation, and can be reused innumerable times. In addition, by using a polurethane elastomer the sleeve can be used
at temperatures up to 100-150 0 C.
Examples of product production.
Example 1 : A mould of suitable shape, after being treated with a suitable release agent compatible with the elastomer, is repeatedly sprayed with an elastomeric polyurethane mixture, to obtain the required thickness.
After this operation the mould coated with polymer is allowed to cure at a suitable temperature, until polymerization is complete.
At this point the sleeve is withdrawn from the mould and the edges levelled off.
Example 2: A mould of suitable shape, after being treated with a suitable release agent compatible with the elastomer, is immersed in a polyurethane mixture.
After this operation the mould coated with polymer is allowed to cure at a suitable temperature, until polymerization is complete.
At this point the sleeve is withdrawn from the mould and the edges levelled off.
The sleeve conceived in this manner is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive idea.
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