Garment formed with extensible garment fabric

Abstract

A garment comprising an extensible garment fabric having an edge fixed in length by a relatively inextensible tape or cord, the tape or cord being made from a material which can be eliminated or made extensible by subsequent processing; and an extensible waistband, the edge of the garment fabric fixed by the tape or cord being attached to the waistband.

Claims

1. A garment comprising: an extensible garment fabric having an edge fixed in length by a relatively inextensible tape or cord, the tape or cord being made from a material which can be eliminated or made extensible by subsequent processing, wherein the extensible garment fabric is cut on a bias to the relatively inextensible tape or cord, and wherein said material comprises water soluble fibers that are made of a low-melt polyamide; and an extensible waistband, the edge of the garment fabric fixed by the tape or cord being attached to the waistband.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the extensible garment fabric comprises: an edge fixed in length by a relatively inextensible tape or cord made from a material capable of being either eliminated or made extensible by subsequent processing, wherein the relatively inextensible tape or cord is made from a material that is water soluble and will dissolve during a washing of the extensible garment fabric, and wherein the material that is water soluble includes water soluble fibers that are polyvinyl alcohol fibers, and wherein the material that is water soluble includes water soluble fibers that are made of a low-melt polyamide, wherein the extensible garment fabric includes inextensible fabric fibers, the extensible garment fabric being extensible along a line of the relatively inextensible tape or cord via the extensible garment fabric being on a bias to relatively inextensible tape or cord.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the extensible garment fabric is partially extended before the relatively inextensible tape or cord is attached.

4. The garment of claim 2 wherein the extensible garment fabric is partially extended before the relatively inextensible tape or cord is attached.

5. The garment of claim 2 wherein the material that is water soluble includes water soluble fibers that are polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the extensible garment fabric includes inextensible fabric fibers, the extensible garment fabric being extensible along a line of the relatively inextensible tape or cord via the extensible garment fabric being on a bias to relatively inextensible tape or cord.

7. The garment of claim 1 wherein said relatively inextensible tape or cord is attached to the extensible garment fabric by simultaneously passing through a sewing machine.

8. A garment comprising: an extensible garment fabric having an edge fixed in length by a relatively inextensible tape or cord, the tape or cord being made from a material which can be eliminated or made extensible by subsequent processing, wherein the extensible garment fabric is cut on a bias to the relatively inextensible tape or cord, and wherein said material comprises water soluble fibers that are made of a low-melt polyamide; and an extensible waistband, wherein the edge of the garment fabric fixed by the tape or cord is attached to the waistband, and wherein the extensible garment fabric includes inextensible fabric fibers, the extensible garment fabric being extensible along a line of the relatively inextensible tape or cord via the extensible garment fabric being on a bias to relatively inextensible tape or cord, and wherein said relatively inextensible tape or cord is attached to the extensible garment fabric by simultaneously passing through a sewing machine.

Description

(1) The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows an extensible fabric with an edge slightly stretched during manufacture;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the garment fabric of FIG. 1 connected to a waistband;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an extensible fabric with one edge fixed by an inextensible cord or tape; and,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the extensible fabric of FIG. 3 connected to an extensible waistband.

(6) A conventional garment 1 comprising a waistband 2 is typically manufactured by connection of a garment fabric 3 to a garment waistband 2. This is typically achieved by passing the waistband 2 and garment fabric 3 simultaneously through a sewing machine. As the garment fabric 3 is passed though the sewing machine longitudinal forces can inadvertently be applied along the edge 4 of the garment fabric 3. This can result in a slight extension of the garment fabric 3 as shown in FIG. 1.

(7) After sewing together the garment fabric 3 relaxes to its natural length. This distorts the waistband 2 as shown in FIG. 2. This can be undesirable to garment manufacturers.

(8) Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is illustrated. Firstly, an inextensible cord or tape 5 is attached to the edge 4 of the garment fabric. This is typically achieved by passing the fabric 3 and cord/tape 5 simultaneously through a sewing machine.

(9) After attachment of the cord/tape 5 the garment fabric 3 is connected to an extensible waistband 2. The cord/tape 5 acts as a work aid preventing extension of the garment fabric 3 during connection.

(10) After connection of the garment fabric 3 and waistband 2 to produce a garment 1 the resulting garment 1 is further processed to remove the cord or tape 5 as shown in FIG. 4. The waistband 2 of the resulting garment 1 and associated garment fabric 3 is then free to expand during wear as required.

(11) In this embodiment of the invention the cord/tape 5 is an inextensible water soluble material such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres. The PVA fibres dissolve the first time the garment 1 is washed so allowing the waistband 2 and garment fabric 3 to expand.

(12) In an alternative embodiment of the invention the cord/tape 5 is made from fibres which are activated by heat or steam and become extensible on activation, for example low melt polyamide fibres. After manufacture of the garment 1, the garment 1 can be pressed to activate the fibres and make the garment 1 extensible.

(13) The garment fabric 3 can be made from extensible fabric fibres. Alternatively, the fabric 3 can be made from inextensible fabric fibres. In this case the fabric 3 is cut on a bias to the tape or cord 5 and to the waistband 2 so allowing the fabric 3 to expand along the length of the waistband 2.

(14) The tape or cord 5 is typically attached to the garment fabric 3 with the garment fabric 3 in its neutral (i.e. neither extended nor compressed) state so as to keep the change in length of the edge 4 of the garment fabric 3 to a minimum when the garment fabric 3 relaxes. This is particularly useful when the extensible waistband 2 does not shrink when washed.

(15) The method is also suitable however for use with extensible waistbands 2 which shrink when washed. During the manufacture of garments 1 including such waistbands 2 the garment fabric 3 is extended slightly before the cord or tape 5 is applied. The garment fabric 3 is then attached to the waistband 2.

(16) During subsequent processing the garment fabric 3 relaxes. If the fabric 3 has been extended by the correct amount, the relaxation will compensate for the shrinkage in the waistband 2 so resulting in an undistorted garment 1.