METHOD FOR PRODUCING GARMENTS OR BANDAGES

Abstract

In a method for producing garments or bandages two superimposed fabric layers are interconnected by a dot-, line-, or areal elastomer connection wherein on one of the fabric layers a three dimensional upstanding shaped part is formed by a layered application of an elastomer and is connected only to the fabric layer carrying the shaped part.

Claims

1. A method for producing garments or bandages comprising the steps of providing two superimposed fabric layers, interconnecting the two fabric layers by a dot-, line-, or areal application of an elastomer connection and providing in another step, on one fabric layer, by a layered application of an elastomer material, a three-dimensional elastic shaped part which protrudes from the one fabric layer with the three-dimensional elastic shaped part being attached only to the one fabric layer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the elastomer connections and three-dimensional shaped parts are provided at different positions on the superimposed fabric layers.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the elastomer connection and the three-dimensional shaped part are produced in different ways.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the elastomer connection is produced by a screen printing process.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein for generating the shaped part, the elastomer material is applied via a nozzle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional shaped part (5) is formed as a compound of elastic material and a reinforcement material (6) wherein the elastomer and the reinforcement material are applied in a noncured state and harden after application.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the flexibility of the reinforcement material is greater than its ductility.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the elastomer and the reinforcement material are each applied in the form of a material worm.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer material is applied in the form of strips and, after hardening of the elastomer material, the fabric layers are cut along the elastomer material strips for producing an edge area of the garment or bandages.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one three-dimensional shaped part has, normal to the plane of the fabric layers, a greater thickness than the elastomer connection.

11. A garment or bandage produced in accordance with the method claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional shaped part (5) is disposed on the inner fabric layer (3) of the garment (1) or the bandage and the inner fabric layer (3), during use of the garment or the bandage, is arranged facing the body of the person who wears the garment or bandage.

12. The garment in the form of a bra according to claim 11, wherein the bra (1) has support straps (8) which are produced as a compound structure of an elastomer and a reinforcement material (6).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a bra with two superimposed fabric layers which are interconnected in the cup areas via elastomer dots wherein additionally in the cup areas three-dimensional shaped parts of elastomer are provided which project above the fabric plane or surface.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a section of the bra in the cup area.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a section through a support strap of the bra.

[0035] In the figures identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] As apparent from FIG. 1 in connection with the sectional representation of FIG. 2, a garment 1 in the form of a bra comprises two superimposed elastic fabric layers 2, 3 which are interconnected in the cup area and in the edge areas via elastomer connections 4. In FIG. 1, in an exemplary way, only one cup area is shown with elastomer connections, but the second cup area is provided with elastomer connections in the same way as the first cup area.

[0037] The elastomer connections 4 comprise individual elastomer dots which are produced in particular in a screen printing process and applied to one of the two fabric layers 2, 3. After application of the elastomer in a soft deformable state, the second fabric layer 3 can be applied whereupon the elastomer cures. In its soft deformable state, the elastomer material penetrates each fabric layers 2, 3 so that, after curing, a firm connection between the two fabric layers is established which however permits an elastic relative movement between the fabric layers 2, 3 because of the elasticity of the elastomer material.

[0038] In the cup area of the bra 1 there is a multitude of dot-like elastomer connections which are however spaced from one another. It may be expedient to provide in different areas of the cups for different density distributions of the elastomer dots 4, in order to control the support properties of the cups. It is also possible to provide, in place of a dot-like application of elastomer material, alternatively or additionally, a line- or areal application of elastomer material for the generation of elastomer connections 4.

[0039] In the cup area there are, spaced from the elastomer connections 4, for example, two three-dimensional shaped parts 5 which also consist of an elastomer material, preferably of the same elastomer as the elastomer connections 4. As shown in the sectional representation of FIG. 2, the three-dimensional shaped parts 5 are disposed on the outside of the upper fabric layer 3 and are connected exclusively to the upper fabric layer 3. The three-dimensional shaped parts are also elastic because they are also produced from an elastomer. The three-dimensional shaped parts 5 are produced by the application of layers of elastomer on the upper fabric layers. Herein the elastomer material is deposited in layers via a nozzle in a non-cured soft and deformable state wherein advantageously the first applied layer is hardened before an additional layer of elastomer material is applied.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2 a three-dimensional shaped part 5 is provided with a reinforcement material 6. The reinforcement material 6 forms, together with the elastomer material, the three-dimensional shaped part as a compound of two materials. The reinforcement material is preferably a plastic material which also can be applied via a nozzle, wherein the reinforcement material is applied in a soft non-cured state. After application the reinforcement material hardens. Subsequently an additional layer of elastomer material may be applied so that the reinforcement material is completely enclosed in elastomer material.

[0041] The rim area 7 which extends around the cup area may be provided with dot-like elastomer connections 4 arranged between the fabric layers 2,3 for interconnecting the fabric layers 2, 3 as shown in FIG. 3 and/or may have a strip-like elastomer layer may be disposed on the upper fabric layer 3 in the form of a strip-like three-dimensional shaped part 5. The elastomer strip 5 is applied to the upper fabric layer 3 following the contour of the cup area.

[0042] After hardening of the elastomer, a cut may be made in the elastomer strip for generating the rim area 7. In this way the bra can be provided in the desired form.

[0043] Also the support strap 8 can be produced in a corresponding way. Hereby, it may be additionally advantageous if the three-dimensional shaped part 5 includes a reinforcement material 6 which extends worm-like in the longitudinal direction of the straps 8. The reinforcement material 5 has a relatively small elasticity in the longitudinal direction, but is easily bendable transverse to the longitudinal direction so that, on one hand, large longitudinal forces can be accommodated by the reinforcement material and, on the other hand, because of an adaptation transverse to the longitudinal extension, a high wearer comfort is ensured.

[0044] Also, in the edge area 7 around the cup areas, the three-dimensional shaped part 5 may be provided with a reinforcement material 6. Alternatively, however, it is possible to omit any reinforcement material in this edge area 7.