Resin for use in setting a crease in a garment, a method and apparatus for applying the same and a garment including the resin

Abstract

A resin for use in setting a crease in a garment, a method and apparatus for applying the resin and a garment including the resin. The resin typically includes a silicone and a catalyst for commencing curing of the resin when the resin is exposed to moisture in ambient environmental conditions once applied onto a base of the crease line of the garment as a ribbon or line of resin. The resin is tin free and in one embodiment has characteristics of being non-slump initially and then changing to a flowable or self-levelling characteristic once applied to the crease line so as to absorb into and bond with fibres of a fabric from which the garment is formed before fully hardening.

Claims

1. A resin for application as a ribbon or line along at least part of a crease line of a garment to assist in extending the period of time of retention of the crease line in the garment, said resin comprising: a catalyst to assist in curing of the resin, said catalyst including at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, peroxide, Organic amine, titanium, zirconium, tertiary amine, organosilane, iron, copper and a non-metal; the resin having a first, substantially fluid, form for a sufficient period of time to allow the resin to be applied along the crease line and attach to fibres of fabric adjacent to the crease line and, once applied, the resin cures taking a second form in which the resin has hardened and bonded to the crease line.

2. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin includes a curing system including an acetate.

3. The resin according to claim 2, wherein the acetate is a crosslinking acetate.

4. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of amorphous silicate hydrate, methylsilanetriyl-triacetate, diacetoxydi-tert-butoxysilane, hexanoic acid, dodecamethyl cyclohexasiloxane, acetic acid bismuth tris(2-ethylhexanoate) and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.

5. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of triacetoxyethylsilane, octamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane, Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and substances including dodecamethylcyclohexasilosane, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, also sometimes referred to as vRVB substances.

6. The resin according to claim 1, wherein curing of the resin occurs as a result of exposure of the resin to ambient environment and, in particular, moisture in the ambient environment in which the resin is applied to the garment.

7. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin cures as a result of selective mixing of curing system components contained within the resin.

8. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the curing of the resin occurs as a result of the exposure of the resin to heat at a temperature greater than that of ambient environment and/or Ultra Violet light.

9. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin includes silicone.

10. The resin according to claim 9, wherein the silicone is a vulcanised silicone rubber.

11. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin, once cured, resists damage at ongoing exposure to ambient environment conditions up to 180 degrees Celsius.

12. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin is substantially colourless.

13. The resin according to claim 1, wherein the resin has characteristics of a substantially non-slump to flowable resin.

14. A method of applying a resin material to a crease line of a garment so as to assist in prolonging retention of the crease line, said method comprising the steps of: providing a resin material having a catalyst including at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, peroxide, Organic amine, titanium, zirconium, tertiary amine, organosilane, iron, copper and a non-metal, supplying the resin material in a fluid form to a dispensing means having an exit aperture for controlled movement of the resin material in fluid form therethrough, guiding a relative movement of an exit aperture along the crease line formed in the garment so that resin material in fluid form is applied from the exit aperture along a base of a substantially V-shaped crease line as a ribbon or line, and allowing the resin material to cure and harden and bond to a fabric which the garment is formed along the crease line.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein a curing system included in the resin material is a crosslinking acetate.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein when the resin material is applied from the exit aperture, the resin material is in a substantially non-slumping form and once leaving the exit aperture, the resin material changes to a more flowable form to allow the resin material to absorb into and bond with fibres of a fabric adjacent to the crease line and with which the resin material contacts.

17. A garment, said garment comprising: at least one crease line formed therein, a resin material comprising a catalyst being applied along the at least one crease line to harden and bond to a fabric of the garment along at least part of the at least one crease line so as to aid in retention of the at least one crease line formed in the garment, and the catalyst including at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, peroxide, Organic amine, titanium, zirconium, tertiary amine, organosilane, iron, copper and a non-metal.

18. The garment according to claim 17, wherein the at least one crease line is V-shaped in cross section, and the resin material is applied along a base of at least part of the at least one crease line and on a body facing surface of the garment when the garment is worn by a user such that the resin material lies between the garment fabric and the user of the garment.

19. The garment according to claim 17, further includes a plurality of crease lines along which the resin is applied.

20. Apparatus for use in application of a resin material along a crease line of a garment, said apparatus comprising: means for moving the resin material comprising a catalyst including at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, peroxide, Organic amine, titanium, zirconium, tertiary amine, organosilane, iron, copper and a non-metal in a fluid condition from a reservoir of the resin material to and through an exit aperture connected with the reservoir, and means for causing relative movement of the exit aperture and garment to apply the resin material as a ribbon or line along a base of at least part of the crease line in a fluid condition to then cure and harden and bond to the garment fabric.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the reservoir and exit aperture and at least part of the means for moving the resin material are provided as integral parts of a cartridge that includes, or is attached to, guide means to guide movement of the cartridge along the crease line as the resin material is applied along the crease line.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein further guide means are provided in the form of a support surface in which one or more grooves are formed to receive and retain therealong the crease line of the garment along which the resin material is applied.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0036] FIG. 1a illustrates an end view of one embodiment of apparatus used to apply the resin to a crease line of a garment;

[0037] FIG. 1b illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the apparatus used for applying a resin material to harden along a crease line of a garment;

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a further embodiment of apparatus for use to apply the resin in accordance with the invention; and

[0039] FIG. 3a illustrates the resin as it is applied to the crease line of the garment shown in cross section in FIG. 1a in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

[0040] FIG. 3b illustrates the resin having been applied to the crease line of the garment of FIG. 3a in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Referring to the FIGS. 1a and b, there is illustrated apparatus 2 for use in the application of a fluid resin material 12 to a crease line 6 of a garment in order to increase the permanence, of the crease line i.e. duration of time in which the crease line is retained, in the garment 8 and thereby maintaining the desired appearance of the garment over a longer period of time. Typically, the resin material 12 is applied at the time of manufacture of the garment and/or thereafter from time to time, such as when garment is cleaned and typically, the application of the resin is applied by a commercial manufacturer or cleaner rather than being applied by the person who has purchased and wears the garment. The garment may of any form in which there is provided a crease line but most typically will be trousers or a shirt.

[0042] In the embodiment shown, the apparatus 2 which is used to apply the resin includes a fluid movement means in the form of a source of a pressured gas such as air and an air pump 36 is connected to a control means 38 which can be provided, as shown in this embodiment, as a hand operated switch located on mounting means 40. The air is supplied to an end 30 of a cartridge 16 via an air tube 34 and is connected to the air pump 36 via air tube 35. The size and design of the cartridge may change to suit particular uses. The air pump can be switched on and off and hence control of the supply of the pressurised air is achieved via the switch 38 which is connected to the tubes 34 and 35. The air, which is pressurised and exits the air pump, is passed to the entrance aperture 30 of the cartridge 16. The cartridge 16 includes a body 28 in which there is defined a reservoir for the fluid resin and which is connected to the exit aperture. A piston 10 is provided to be moved along the reservoir and, intermediate the piston and the exit aperture 26 of the cartridge, there is provided a quantity of the resin material 12 in a fluid condition. The cartridge body mounting means 40 include the finger switch 38 for the control of the air pump and which can be gripped by the user when moving the cartridge.

[0043] The cartridge, in this example, includes guide means 14 at spaced intervals along the length of the cartridge body as shown and these lie along and contact with the crease line and lie along the same axis as the elongate exit aperture 26 of the cartridge. The guide means are provided to be received and pass along the crease line on the surface of the garment which faces towards the wearer's body when the garment is to be worn so that the guide means guide the cartridge as it is moved along the crease line to apply the resin along the base 5 of the substantially V-shaped crease line. The crease line lies in a V-shaped or gull-wing shaped groove 4 provided on a support surface or arm 20 and this acts to maintain the crease line along the required linear path with the base 5 exposed and the cartridge is moved along the internal surface of the garment in the direction of arrow 18 and as the relative movement between the garment and the cartridge occurs, so the operation of the air pump operation moves the piston 10 along the cartridge reservoir to move the resin material 12 towards and through the exit aperture 26 to be dispensed as a line or ribbon of the resin material along the base 5 of the crease line 6.

[0044] In other forms of the apparatus the resin may be supplied from a reservoir of the resin to an exit aperture 26 provided in a holding means and the holding means is physically separate from the reservoir as is shown in FIG. 2.

[0045] In FIG. 2 there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the apparatus and for ease of reference the same reference numerals are used for the same features as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a and b. The application of the resin material is also applied along the garment crease line 6 in a similar manner to that shown in FIG. 1a but in this embodiment no cartridge is provided and instead the reservoir 44 is formed by a drum or container 42 which includes the resin material. The reservoir is connected via tubes 48, 50 and via a pump 46 to application means 52 which include a mounting means including a gripping or holding portion 54 including guide means in the form of skis or skids or wheels 56. The tube is connected to the exit aperture 26 and through the same to be dispensed along the base of crease 6 of the garment 8 as previously described with the crease and garment located on a groove and support table 58 or a similar support arm 20 to that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and b.

[0046] In either embodiment, when the resin is dispensed from the exit aperture, the resin is still in a fluid condition and therefore flows out of the exit aperture 26 and onto and along the crease line.

[0047] Once the resin material has been applied to, and typically has passed at least partially into the garment fabric along the base of the crease line, the exposure of the resin to the surrounding ambient environment and in particular the moisture in the ambient environment, which most typically is a factory or industrial space, causes the catalyst contained within the resin to be activated to start to cure and harden the resin and as it does so bond to the fibres of the fabric of the garment adjacent to and lying along the crease line 6 of the garment 8 and when hardened and bonded retains the V-shaped form of the crease line 6 and thereby ensures that if the resin material has been applied correctly to the base 5 of the crease line 6, the resin assists in maintaining the form of the crease in the garment for a longer period of time than would be the case if the resin had not been applied to the crease line.

[0048] In accordance with the invention, the resin material 12, is provided with a catalyst in the form of any or any combination of platinum, peroxide, Organic amine, titanium, zirconium, tertiary amine, organosilane, iron, copper and/or a non-metal and react to exposure to the ambient environment and particularly the moisture in the environment.

[0049] However, in order to further encourage a relatively fast curing effect, or if the curing agent in the resin is changed, then it is possible that the resin application apparatus will include apparatus for providing, for example, heat or creating infra-red or ultra-violet or other curing effects on the resin once it has been applied so as to cure or improve the curing of the resin. An example of the apparatus for achieving this is provided in FIG. 2 which illustrates a unit 60 positioned above the garment 8 at the location at which the resin will already have been applied and the unit can then emit a curing means such as heat or suitable light onto the resin line to cure the same.

[0050] A platinum containing catalyst is found to effectively initiate the cross-linking of the silicone polymer provided in the resin and provide the required rate of cure and are safer and more environmentally friendly than tin containing resins.

[0051] Peroxide containing catalysts are effective when used with the silicone contained in the resin in accordance with the invention and initiate the curing process through a free radical mechanism and can be used in relatively high-temperature application procedures and still provide good curing performance.

[0052] Organic amine catalysts are effective when used with the silicone contained in the resin and promote the curing of the resin by initiating the condensation of silanol groups when exposed to moisture. They provide the required cure rates for the resin to allow the same to be applied to form and retain the crease line in the garment.

[0053] Titanium containing catalysts can be used in the resin and one example of which is titanium chelates and achieve good cure rates and are generally considered safe and have low toxicity.

[0054] Zirconium compounds, such as zirconium acetylacetonate, can be used as catalysts in the silicone containing resin to promote the curing process and provide good adhesion to the fibres of the fabric and durability in the maintenance of the crease line and have good stability and resistance to water and other chemicals.

[0055] Tertiary Amine Catalysts such as triethylenediamine (TEDA), can be used as the catalyst for the resin as they are effective in promoting the cure reaction.

[0056] An organo silate catalyst can be used as the curing agent for the resin and in particular silanated polymers, end-capped with dimethoxy, trimethoxy or diethoxy silane groups and also eliminates methanol emissions.

[0057] Iron and/or copper catalysts such as iron acetylacetonate or iron naphthenate, can be used as the catalyst for the silicone containing resin to promote the curing reaction and offer good cure rates.

[0058] Non-metal catalysts can be used as the catalyst such as organic salts, such as onium salts, or organic bases, such as guanidine derivatives to initiate the curing process and provide good cure rates.

[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 3a and b there is illustrated the manner in which the resin used has a non slumping to flowable characteristic. It is found that this assists in the application of the resin whilst ensuring the best possible bonding of the resin to the fabric once applied. In FIG. 3a there is shown the resin as it is applied from the exit aperture 26 into the crease line 6 and onto the base 5 and typically as soon as the resin leaves the exit aperture and is exposed to the ambient environment, the catalyst in the resin will start the curing effect of the resin. As shown in FIG. 3a it is typically the case that the resin will initially have the form of a body or “blob” 62 of resin in which the same has the substantially non-slumping characteristic. The size of the body 62 and speed of curing will be affected by the parameters of the size of exit aperture 26, the speed of movement along the crease line of the exit apertures and the ambient environment conditions.

[0060] However at or soon after exposure to the ambient environment conditions when the resin leaves the exit aperture 26, the characteristic of the resin will change towards a flowable characteristic which means that resin 64 starts to absorb into and bond with the fibres 66 of the fabric of the garment 8 adjacent to the base 5 of the crease line 6 as illustrated in FIG. 3b. This improves the bonding and retention of the subsequently hardened fully cured resin with the fabric and hence retention of the crease line 6 shape. This change from the non-slumping to flowable characteristic of the resin allows, in conjunction with the control of the parameters referred to above, the control of the application of the resin to allow the same to absorb into and/or bond with the fabric as the resin cures and hardens. It is also important to control the extent of absorption such that the resin does not pass through to the opposing surface of the fabric and become viewable externally of the garment when the garment is worn. Typically this is achieved with respect to controlling the amount of resin applied and also with respect to the viscosity of the resin, the speed of relative movement between garment and the exit aperture as the resin is applied along the crease line, the rate of curing of the resin and the particular type and characteristics of the fabric of the garment to which the resin is applied at that instant of time.

[0061] In one example the resin which is used is colourless and includes silicone rubber and one or more of the catalysts as herein described and, in ambient environmental conditions of a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and 50% relative humidity has a curing speed in the range of 1.5 to 1.7 mm/d when exposed to the ambient conditions and is preferably applied such that the line of resin has a thickness less than 0.75 mm.

[0062] Thus, in accordance with the invention there is provided a means of extending the length of duration of retention of a crease line in a garment using a resin material which is environmentally friendly and has reduced potential health impact as the curing agent or catalysts used in the resin, and the resin as a whole, is substantially free from tin, organo-tin and any tin compounds and so concerns with regard to health and safety relating to the usage of those materials are overcome and avoided. At the same time the effectiveness of the resin is improved by the provision of the same in the format as herein described.