GB2338697A

GB2338697A - Reinforcing structure for folding articles of clothing

Info

Publication number: GB2338697A
Application number: GB9914568A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Paul Wells
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-24
Filing date: 1999-06-22
Publication date: 1999-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-22
Also published as: GB9813575D0; GB9914568D0; GB2338697B

Abstract

A reinforcing structure for assisting the folding of an article of clothing comprising a main panel 1 divided by a lateral fold line 3a into upper and lower flat panels 4 and 5 respectively, and first and second sleeve portions 2a and 2b having transverse fold lines 3b, 3c, 3d spaced there along and means for attaching sleeves of the article of clothing to the distal ends of the sleeve portions, e.g. by engaging the sleeves with slots 13.

Description

-P REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLES OF CLOTHING h th 2338697 This

invention relates to a reinforcing structure for articles of clothing assisting the folding ereof.

Folding of upper body garments is not a straightforward process particularly when trying to maintain the crisp, ready to wear appearance of the garment. Once folded, crushing and creasing of the garment occurs if not protected particularly when packed in modem day soft travel bags. This is a particular problem, although not exclusively for the traveHer, for whom several changes of clothing are required ready to wear. Correspondingly existing clothing packaging used by manufacturers to avoid creasing and maintain the appearance of the garment has no use after initial removal.

According to the present invention there is provided a reinforcing structure for assisting the folding of an article of clothing, comprising a main panel divided by a lateral fold line into upper and lower flat panels, and first and second sleeve portions having transverse fold lines spaced there along and means for attaching sleeves of the article of clothing to the distal ends of the sleeve portions. In this way the transverse fold lines on the sleeve portions dictate folding of the sleeves of the article of clothing onto the main panel in a precise manner. Correspondingly this method of engagement allows the reinforcing structure to be used without being placed inside the article of clothing.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows in plan, the reinforcing structure in an unfolded condition.

Figure 2 shows in perspective view, means of attachment of the sIeeve portions to the main panel of the reinforcing structure.

Figure 3 shows in perspective view, means of location of the garment collar to the reinforcing structure.

Figure 4 shows in perspective view, means of attaching the garment sleeves to the sleeve portions of the reinforcing structure.

Figures 5a to Se show in plan, the folding process of the reinforcing structure of Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows in perspective view, the reinforcing structure and garment in a fully folded state.

Figure 7zk.and 7b show in perspective view, alternative means of attaching the garment sleeves to the sleeve portions of the reinforcing structure.

2- Referring to the Figure 1, the reinforcing structure is comprised of a main panel 1, first and second removable sleeve portions 2a and 2b. Main panel 1 is divided by lateral fold line 3a into upper flat panel 4, and lower flat panel 5. Other features of main panel 1 are the collar receiving extension 6 located on the top edge of the upper flat panel 4, slit locking mechanism 7 positioned so as to secure lower flat panel 5 to upper flat panel 4 when the main panel 1 is folded along the lateral fold line 3 a, and slits 8 and 9 to receive sleeve portions 2a, and 2b. Sleeve portions 2a and 2b are divided by transverse fold lines 3b, 3c and 3d into sections 10, 11 and 12, said sections being dimensioned such that each successive section from the distal end is longer than the previous section. Slot 13 is provided at the distal ends of the first and second sleeve portions 2a and 2b, said slot being elongated in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve portions and of width less than the diameter of a typical garment button. Extension 14 is located at the proximal end of the sleeve portions 2a and 2b.

Referring to Figure 2 sleeve portions 2a and 2b are attached to upper flat panel 4 by engaging extension 14 at the proximal end of the sleeve portions, into slits g and 9 located in the upper corners of the upper flat panel 4. The removable nature of sleeve portions 2a, and 2b allow for sleeve portions of suitable length for use with different articles of clodffig to be attached to the main panel 1, such as short sleeved shirts or T shirts.

A method for using this device in conjunction with a long sleeved shirt will now be described. The garment is laid front down on a flat surface in an unfolded state. Referring to Figure 3, the reinibrcing structure is placed onto the back of the main body of the garment 15 locating the collar receiving extension 6 under the back of the garment collar 16, with first and second sleeve portions 2a and 2b extended over the sleeves 17a and 17b of the garment.

Referring to Figure 4, sleeves 17a and 17b are attached to sleeve portions 2a and 2b, by engaging sleeve button 18 into slot 13 on the sleeve portion. This is achieved by deflecting slot 13 until sleeve button 18 can pass through it, the resilience of the material allowing slot 13 to regain its former shape. The longitudinal length of the slot 13 is dimensioned to accommodate variations in button position due to different garment arm lengths.

Referring to Figure 5 a, section 10 of sleeve portion 2a with attached garment sleeve 17a is folded over 180 deg along transverse fold line 3b onto section 11. Referring to Figure 5b, sections 10 and 11 with attached garment sleeve 1 7a are folded over 180 deg along transverse fold line 3c onto section 12. Referring to Figure 5c, sections 10, 11 and 12 with attached garment sleeve 17a and an overlapping section of the garment 19 are folded over 180 deg along transverse fold line 3d onto main panel 1. This process is repeated with the second sleeve portion 2b and garment sleeve 17b, refer to Figure 5d.

Referring to Figure 5e, the bottom section of the garment 20 is folded over 180 deg onto the lower flat panel 5. The lower flat panel 5 is then folded along lateral fold line 3a onto upper flat panel 4, said lower flat panel 5 being secured to upper flat panel 4 by means of slit locking mechanism 7. This is achieved by deflecting slit locking mechanism 7 until lower flat panel 5 is engaged into the aforementioned slit.

The result of the folding process as herein before described is to reduce the garment into a compact rigid structure, refer to Figure 6. To remove the garment from the reinforcing structure the folding process is carried out in the reverse sequence.

Both the main panel 1 and first and second sleeve portions 2a, and 2b are made from a rigid or semi-rigid material such as card or deflectable plastic sheeting. Fold lines may be generated 'due to local deformations of the sheet or thinning lines by pressing or scraping to promote the folding of the sheet in a single direction with a pre determined movement.

Variations are not limited to the specific embodiment as herein before described. Other means of attaching garment sleeves to the distal ends of the sleeve portions such as using elastic loops (refer to Figure 7a) or deflectable tabs (refer to Figure 7b) may be adopted.

Claims

CLAIMS i A reinforcing structure for assisting the folding of an article

of clothing, comprising a main panel divided by a lateral fold line into upper and lower flat panels, and first and second sleeve portions having trmsverse fold lines spaced there along and means for attaching sleeves of the article of clothing to the distal ends of the sleeve portions.
2. A reinforcing structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said first and second sleeve portions are attached to upper corners of the upper flat panel by means of extensions located at the proximal end of the sleeve portions and engaging with corresponding slits located in the upper flat panel.
3. A reinforcing structure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein slots are provided at the distal ends of the first and second sleeve portions for receiving buttons on the sleeves of the garment to attach the sleeves to the sleeve portions.
4. A reinforcing structure as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the transverse fold lines of the sleeve portions divide the sleeve portions into sections, said sections being dimensioned such that each successive section from the distal end is longer than the previous section allowing thus the sleeve portions to fold onto one another and ffially onto the upper flat panel.
A reinforcing structure as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a slit locking mechanism is provided on the main panel so as the secure the lower flat panel to the upper flat panel when the main panel is folded along the lateral fold line.
6. A reinforcing structure as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a collar receiving extension is provided at the top end of the upper flat panel.
A reinforcing structure as cla ' imed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main panel and the first and second sleeve portions are made from a rigid or semi-rigid material such as card or flexible plastics sheeting.
8. A reinforcing structure as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the fold lines are formed by local deformations or thitming of the sheet.
9 A reinforcing structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each fold line has a predetermined folding direction.
10. A reinforcing structure for assisting the folding of an article of clothing substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.