Garment stiffener packaging arrangement, assembly, and methods

Abstract

A garment stiffener packaging arrangement, assembly, and associated methods provide a user with ready access to at least one adhesively attachable garment stiffener structure for rendering an otherwise flexible or flaccid target garment portion substantially stiff or planar. The garment stiffener assembly central to the invention comprises a garment stiffener structure, adhesive material permanently applied thereto, and a backing material. The stiffener structure is formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigid material into a quadrilateral shape, and the backing material is formed from a substantially planar, flexible material comprising a V-shape. The stiffener structures are removably and adhesively attached to the backing material thereby linking the garment stiffener structures into at least one V-shaped packaging arrangement. Each V-shaped packaging arrangement is foldable for collapsing the stiffener structures into a series of non-adhesively stacked and interconnected stiffener structures.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a garment stiffener packaging arrangement, assembly, and method associated therewith. More particularly, the present invention relates to a garment stiffener assembly for rendering certain relatively flexible or non-planar target garment portions relatively rigid and/or planar.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

As is aptly noted in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2005/0160520, authored by Forrest, the flexible collars of collared shirts tend to lie irregularly or tend to curl into non-planar configurations as a result of washing, drying, or exposure to high humidity environments. While the collared shirts may be laundered and ironed so as to render planar or wrinkle-free the collars, the shirt collars nevertheless tend to curl. In the past, these collar appearance problems have been addressed through the use of collar stiffening devices of various shapes and functions with varied results or levels of effectiveness.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,110,525 ('525 Patent), which issued to Kass, for example, discloses a Collar for Personal Wear. The '525 Patent describes a stiffening insertion device for soft and semi-soft foldable collars of the type having a pocket on the inner surface of each tip of the outer fold of the collar consisting of an elastic plate shaped body conforming in shape to the tip of the collar and of substantial width and composed of a Celluloid-like material bent upon itself at a sharp angle to provide closely spaced leg portions arranged within the fold of the collar so that the bend extends circumferentially of the collar to a substantial extent, one leg portion of the body being partly received in the pocket at the tip of the outer fold of the collar, the other leg portion being free of connection with the collar whereby a tie may be received between the two leg portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,147 ('147 Patent), which issued to Duffy, discloses a Shirt Collar Construction. The '147 Patent describes a pre-formed layered collar stiffener sub-assembly, which assembly is inserted between the layers of a collar sub-assembly at the wing portions thereof. A single line of stitching not only completes the securement of the layers of the collar but locates and secures the collar stiffener sub-assembly therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,286 ('286 Patent), which issued to Tiss, discloses a Collar Stay. The '286 Patent describes a collar stay in the form of a stiff yieldably flexible flat substantially H-shaped material having vertically oriented opposite side edges and horizontally oriented upper and lower edges, the upper and lower edges each having a V-shaped notch therein centrally between the opposite side edges of the material and located in a common theoretical vertical plane, the notch in the horizontally oriented upper edge having a depth substantially greater than the notch in the horizontally oriented lower edge, one flat surface of the material being coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive material, and a removable backing material covering the pressure sensitive adhesive material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,337 ('337 Patent), which issued to Malouf, Jr., discloses a Shape Retaining Collar Device and Article of Wearing Apparel Using Same. The '337 Patent describes a shape retaining collar device for use with garments of wearing apparel as for example, a shirt having a torso covering segment. The shape retaining collar device in the garment construction includes a first fabric portion which is attachable to the torso covering segment and which is generally non-exposed to a viewer.

This first fabric portion may be in the form of a band for attachment to the garment and extending outwardly from the first fabric portion is a second fabric portion in the form of a collar which essentially forms a neckline for the garment. Moreover, the second fabric portion terminates in a pair of edges which are forwardly presented to a viewer of the collar. A channel is formed within the second fabric portion for receiving a collar stay and a channel is also formed in the first fabric portion for receiving an integrally formed tab on this collar stay. The tab is located at an acute angle with respect to the collar stay and is relatively rigid to retain the shape of the collar at least at an acute angle with respect to the first fabric portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,361 ('361 Patent), which issued to Thomas, discloses a Collar-Shaping Device. The '361 Patent describes an apparatus for use in shaping casual turn-down collars has a flexible sheet substrate with a profile that fits underneath a casual turn-down collar. There is an adhesive coating on each side of the substrate. The substrate fits without showing and with a portion of the substrate near a tip of the collar. The coating is self-releasing and pressure sensitive. There is a cover film on each side of the substrate over the adhesive coating. The substrate has a removal tab section with no adhesive coating on each side of the substrate. There is a pull-tab on each cover film that extends beyond the adhesive coating on the substrate. The pull-tab extends over the removal tab section. The collar is manually shaped and the apparatus is placed between the shirt body and the collar to fix the collar in place.

United States Patent Application No. US 2005/0160520, which was authored by Forrest, describes an apparatus and method are disclosed for providing an adhesive collar stiffening device that is easy to use and provides sufficient stiffness and flexibility for use with soft collar shirts. The collar stiffening device includes a collar stay having a first surface and a second surface, a foam layer secured to the second surface of the collar stay, an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the foam layer, and a flexible protective cover layer removably secured to the foam layer by the adhesive.

United States Patent Application No. 2010/0088801, which was authored by Spiros, describes a slip resistant collar stay resistant to shifting positions in its cooperating pocket when the garment in which it is used is worn. The slip resistant collar stay comprises an elongate body and a slip resistant element disposed thereon, wherein the slip resistant element is provided on at least one surface of the elongate body of the collar stay.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be noted that the prior art perceives a need for a garment stiffener packaging arrangement and assembly incorporating quadrilateral shaped stiffener structures linkable into V-shaped or W-shaped packaging arrangements for ease of forming, storage and/or shipping. In this last regard, the prior art perceives a need for such a garment stiffener packaging arrangement and supporting assembly

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve these and other readily apparent objectives, the present invention essentially discloses a garment stiffener assembly, certain packaging arrangements therefore, and certain methods associated therewith. The garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention is developed to essentially provide a user with certain means for rendering an otherwise flexible, wrinkled, or flaccid portion of a garment substantially rigid and/or planar.

The garment stiffener assembly comprises a garment stiffener structure preferably constructed from a substantially planar, semi- or relatively rigid material and formed into a quadrilateral shape such that each garment stiffener structure has four edges, four vertices, an adhesive-receiving stiffener face or surface, and an outer or exposed stiffener face or surface. An adhesive material is permanently applied to the adhesive-receiving stiffener face. The adhesive material is temporarily covered by a backing material.

Notably, the garment stiffener assembly comprises a garment stiffener structure having a generally quadrilateral shape. The preferred quadrilateral shape of the garment stiffener structure is believed to represent the best shape to conform the various shapes of target garment portions as typified by shirt collars. In this regard, it is noted that quadrilaterals comprise four (straight) sides or (straight) edges as at 19 and four vertices with any number of varied angles extending therebetween.

The vertices of a quadrilateral are believed well-suited to fit or otherwise align with corners of shirt collars, and the straight edges are believed well suited to extend substantially rigid structural dimension from a corner-aligned vertex into the first and second dimensions of the target garment portion. In this last regard, it is noted that a parallelogram-shaped garment stiffener structure provides a more symmetrical stiffening structure about its diagonals, and that a rhomboid garment stiffener structure provides differing structural dimensions in first and second stiffener dimensions. It is thus contemplated that the parallelogram and/or rhomboid structures provide an enhanced garment stiffening function to the structure.

The garment stiffener structure and the adhesive material are preferably translucent so as to allow light to pass therethrough and help camouflage the structure or render the structure substantially invisible when adhesively attached to the target garment portion. By contrast, however, the backing material is preferably opaque so as to enable the user to more readily and visually distinguish the translucent garment stiffener structure and adhesive from the backing material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings:

FIG. 1 is a frontal or anterior perspective view of a garment stiffener packaging arrangement according to the present invention showing a series of quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structures linked via a continuous backing material to form a W-shaped or double V-shaped packaging arrangement.

FIG. 1(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of a first fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 1 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structures linked via a backing material.

FIG. 1(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of a second fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 1 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structures linked via a backing material.

FIG. 1(c) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of a third fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 1 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structures linked via a backing material.

FIG. 2 is a rear or posterior perspective view of a garment stiffener packaging arrangement according to the present invention showing a series of quadrilateral shaped segments or portions of a continuous backing material to form a W-shaped or double V-shaped packaging arrangement.

FIG. 2(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of a first fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 2 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structures linked via the continuous backing material.

FIG. 2(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of a second fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 2 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structures linked via the continuous backing material.

FIG. 2(c) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of a third fold junction of the packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 2 showing two vertices of adjacent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structures linked via the continuous backing material.

FIG. 3 is a frontal or anterior perspective view of a garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing a single quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structure with backing material being removed therefrom.

FIG. 3(a) is a fragmentary enlarged section view of an upper portion of the garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FIG. 3 showing the backing material being removed from the quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structure.

FIG. 4 is a first fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of a first garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing three layers of material, namely, from left to right, a backing material layer, an adhesive material layer, and a garment stiffener structural layer.

FIG. 5 is a second fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of a first garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing three layers of material, namely, from left to right, a garment stiffener structural layer, an adhesive material layer, and a backing material layer being removed from the adhesive material layer.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a garment stiffener packaging arrangement according to the present invention depicted in a folded state and showing a translucent quadrilateral shaped garment stiffener structure exploded from a top most exposed opaque backing material segment.

FIG. 6(a) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a first corner portion of the folded garment stiffener packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 6, showing a backing material layered upon and linking a series of garment stiffener structures.

FIG. 6(b) is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a second corner portion of the folded garment stiffener packaging arrangement otherwise depicted in FIG. 6, showing a backing material layered upon and linking a series of garment stiffener structures.

FIG. 7 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a first alternative garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a second alternative garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a garment stiffener packaging arrangement according to the present invention showing a series of garment stiffener assemblies exploded from one another in stacked relation.

FIG. 10 is an elevational side view of a garment stiffener packaging arrangement according to the present invention showing a series of garment stiffener assemblies exploded from one another in stacked relation.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a first shirt having non-planar collar tips extending from the neck portion of the first shirt.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a second shirt having non-planar collar tips extending from the neck portion of the second shirt.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a user adhesively attaching a garment stiffener structure to the underside of a shirt collar adjacent the corner thereof to render the shirt collar substantially planar.

FIG. 14 is a first sequential diagrammatic side view type depiction of an enlarged non-planar shirt collar juxtaposed adjacent a first garment stiffener structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a second sequential diagrammatic side view type depiction of an enlarged shirt collar with adhesively attached first garment stiffener structure rendering the shirt collar substantially planar.

FIG. 16 is a third sequential diagrammatic side view type depiction of an enlarged shirt collar with adhesively attached first garment stiffener structure juxtaposed adjacent a second garment stiffener structure.

FIG. 17 is a fourth sequential diagrammatic side view type depiction of an enlarged shirt collar with adhesively attached first and second stacked garment stiffener structures rendering the shirt collar substantially planar.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a first shirt, the collar tips of which have been outfitted with hidden garment stiffener structures thereby rendering the collars of the first shirt substantially planar.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a second shirt, the collar tips of which have been outfitted with hidden garment stiffener structures thereby rendering the collars of the second shirt substantially planar.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary depiction of the inner surface of a sleeve cuff outfitted with first and second garment stiffener structures according to the present invention thereby rendering portions of the sleeve cuff substantially planar.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary depiction of a sleeve cuff outfitted with hidden first and second garment stiffener structures according to the present invention thereby rendering portions of the sleeve cuff substantially planar.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary side or edge view of a second garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing three primary layers of structural material, namely, a backing material layer sandwiched between first and second garment stiffener structural layers.

FIG. 23 is a first sequential, fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of the second garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FIG. 22 showing five layers of material, namely, from left to right, (1) a first garment stiffener structural layer, (2) a first adhesive material layer, (3) a backing material layer, (4) a second adhesive material layer, and (5) a second garment stiffener structural layer.

FIG. 24 is a second sequential view of the second garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FIG. 23 showing the rightmost three layers, namely, the backing material layer, the second adhesive material layer, and the second garment stiffener structural layer being removed from the leftmost two layers, namely, the first garment stiffener structural layer and the first adhesive material layer.

FIG. 25 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a third alternative garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing a straight line perforation for defining a three-sided garment stiffener structure.

FIG. 25(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the three-sided garment stiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FIG. 25.

FIG. 26 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a fourth alternative garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing a series of rounded corner-based perforations for defining a four-sided garment stiffener structure with rounded corners.

FIG. 26(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the four-sided garment stiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FIG. 26.

FIG. 27 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a fifth alternative garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing a circular perforation for defining a circular garment stiffener structure.

FIG. 27(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the circular garment stiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FIG. 27.

FIG. 28 is a frontal or anterior plan view of a sixth alternative garment stiffener assembly according to the present invention showing an oval perforation for defining an oval garment stiffener structure.

FIG. 28(a) is a frontal or anterior plan view of the oval garment stiffener structure as removed from the garment stiffener assembly otherwise depicted in FIG. 28.

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary frontal view of a user wearing a generic collared shirt having right and left collar sides, each collar side having an inner collar portion and an outer collar portion, the inner and outer collar portions each being outfitted with hidden garment stiffener structures thereby rendering the inner and outer collar portions substantially planar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND METHODOLOGY

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns a garment stiffener assembly as at 10, a preferred packaging arrangement therefore as at 30, an alternative packaging arrangement as at 31, and certain methods associated therewith. The garment stiffener assembly 10 according to the present invention is developed to essentially provide a user with certain means for rendering an otherwise flexible, wrinkled, or flaccid portion of a garment substantially rigid and/or planar.

In this regard, the reader is directed to FIGS. 11, 12, and 14, which figures depict shirt collars as at 11 (i.e. exemplary garment portions) having generally non-planar, or flaccid construction. The present garment stiffener assembly 10 is believed to enable users to remedy, stiffen, and/or make firm or planar such garment portions. Accordingly, when the garment stiffener structure 12 is adhesively attached to the target garment portion 13, the target garment portion 13 is rendered substantially planar as comparatively depicted in FIG. 11 versus FIG. 18; FIG. 12 versus FIGS. 19; and FIG. 14 versus FIGS. 15-17.

Referencing FIG. 29, it will be seen that the user is wearing a generic collared shirt having a right collar side as at 60, and a left collar sides as at 61. Each of the collar sides 60 and 61 has an inner, neck-opposing collar portion as at 11(b) and an outer, folded collar portion as at 11(a). The inner and outer collar portions 11(b) and 11(a) are each outfitted with hidden garment stiffener structures 12 thereby rendering the inner and outer collar portions 11(b) and 11(a) substantially planar.

The garment stiffener assembly 10 comprises a garment stiffener structure 12 preferably constructed from a substantially planar, semi- or relatively rigid material (as compared to the relatively flexible material or fabric of the target garment portion) (such as polyethylene sheeting) and preferably formed into a quadrilateral shape such that each garment stiffener structure 12 has four edges, four vertices, an adhesive-receiving stiffener face or surface as at 14, and an outer or exposed stiffener face or surface as at 15. The exposed stiffener faces 15 may be preferably folded into contact with one another, which folded and contacting exposed stiffener faces 15 may well function to protect each other from abrasions and thus maintaining the transparency of the structure(s) 12.

An adhesive material 16 is permanently applied to the adhesive-receiving stiffener face 14. The adhesive material 16 is thus layered upon the structure 12 and is sufficiently tacky so as to removably and adhesively attach the structure 12 to most forms of fabric or garments. The adhesive material 16 is temporarily covered by a backing material as at 17, which backing material 17 is preferably formed from a substantially planar, flexible (e.g. paper-based) material. The garment stiffener structure 12 is thus removably and adhesively attached to the backing material 17 via the adhesive material 16. In other words, the backing material 17 temporarily covers the adhesive material 16 for selective exposure and adhesive attachment to the target garment portion as at 13. The garment stiffener structure 12, when adhesively attached to the target garment portion 13, essentially functions to render the target garment portion 13 substantially planar.

Notably, the garment stiffener assembly 10 comprises a garment stiffener structure 12 preferably having a generally quadrilateral shape. The preferred quadrilateral shape of the garment stiffener structure 12 is believed to be represent the best shape to conform the various shapes of target garment portions 13 as typified by shirt collars 11, but as also exemplified by shirt cuffs as at 18. In this regard, it is noted that quadrilaterals comprise four (straight) sides or (straight) edges as at 19 and four vertices as at 20 with any number of varied angles extending therebetween.

The vertices 20 of a quadrilateral are believed well-suited to fit or otherwise align with corners 21 of shirt collars 11 and/or corners 22 of cuffs 18 (it may be noted that the angled stiffener structure may also accommodate button holes 25 or buttons as generally depicted in FIG. 20), and the straight edges 19 are believed well suited to extend substantially rigid structural dimension from a corner-aligned vertex 20 into the first and second dimensions of the target garment portion 13. In this last regard, it is noted that a parallelogram-shaped garment stiffener structure 12 (as generally depicted in FIG. 7) provides a more symmetrical stiffening structure about its diagonals, and that a rhomboid garment stiffener structure 12 (as generally depicted in FIG. 8) provides differing structural dimensions in first and second stiffener dimensions. It is thus contemplated that the parallelogram and/or rhomboid structures provide an enhanced garment stiffening function to the structure 12.

In this last regard, it is noted that a rhomboid quadrilateral enables the user to align the structure 12 in such a manner as to match the relatively long dimension of the structure 12 with the relatively long dimension of the target garment portion 13, as well as match the relatively short dimension of the structure 12 with the relatively short dimension of the target garment portion 13. Referencing FIG. 13, for example, it will be seen that the shirt collar 11 has a referenced length or first garment dimension as at 100, and a referenced width or second garment dimension as at 101.

Further, referencing FIG. 8, it will be seen that the rhomboid stiffener structure 12 comprises a referenced length or first stiffener dimension as at 102, and a referenced width or second stiffener dimension as at 103. The first stiffener dimension 102 is believed well-suited to extend in the same direction as the first garment dimension 100, and the second stiffener dimension 103 is believed well-suited to extend in the same direction as the second garment dimension 101 so as to maximize the rigidity of the target garment portion 13 in the respective directions.

The garment stiffener structure 12 and the adhesive material 16 are preferably translucent as generally depicted in FIG. 6 so as to allow light to pass therethrough and help camouflage the structure 12 or render the structure 12 substantially invisible when adhesively attached to the target garment portion 13. By contrast, however, the backing material 17 is preferably opaque so as to enable the user to more readily and visually distinguish the translucent garment stiffener structure 12 and adhesive 16 from the backing material 17.

In another embodiment, it is contemplated that the garment stiffener assembly 50 as generally depicted in FIGS. 22-24 may preferably comprise three primary layers of structural material, namely, a backing material layer as at 17 sandwiched between first and second garment stiffener structural layers as at 12. FIG. 23, for example, depicts a first sequential, fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of the garment stiffener assembly 59 otherwise depicted in FIG. 22, and in the enlarged view depicts adhesive layers 16 sandwiched between the outer stiffener structural layers 12 and the inner backing material layer 17.

FIG. 23 thus shows five total layers of materials, namely, from left to right, (1) a first garment stiffener structural layer 12, (2) a first adhesive material layer 16, (3) a backing material layer 17, (4) a second adhesive material layer 16, and (5) a second garment stiffener structural layer 12. FIG. 24 is a second sequential view of the garment stiffener assembly 50 otherwise depicted in FIG. 23 showing the rightmost three layers, namely, the backing material layer 17, the second adhesive material layer 16, and the second garment stiffener structural layer 12 being removed from the leftmost two layers, namely, the first garment stiffener structural layer 12 and the first adhesive material layer 16.

While the foregoing specifications set forth much specificity, the same should not be construed as setting forth limits to the invention but rather as setting forth certain preferred embodiments and features. For example, as prefaced hereinabove, it is contemplated that the present invention essentially provides a garment stiffener packaging arrangement, assembly, and certain methods associated therewith.

The garment stiffener packaging arrangement is believed to provide a user with ready access to a series of interconnected garment stiffener structures as a means for rendering target garment portions stiff or substantially planar. The packaging arrangement is thus believed to essentially comprise at least two garment stiffener structures (as at 12), each of which are preferably formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigid material into a quadrilateral shape, thus having four edges, four vertices, an adhesive-receiving stiffener face, and an exposed stiffener face.

Alternative selective stiffener shapes, however, are contemplated as generally depicted or taught in FIGS. 25-28(a). In this regard, it is noted that any number of stiffener shapes, as exemplified by a triangular stiffener shape as at 70; a round-cornered quadrilateral stiffener shape as at 71; a circular stiffener shape as at 72, and an oval stiffener shape as at 73. Referencing the noted figures, it is contemplated that the garment stiffener structure 12 may be perforated as at 40 so as to enable the user to more easily render a selected shape, as, for example, by cutting the structure(s) 12 along the perforation(s) 40. FIG. 25 depicts the variously described layers or structures, namely, stiffener structure 12, adhesive material 16, and backing material 17.

An adhesive material (as at 16) is applied to the adhesive-receiving stiffener face of each garment stiffener structure, and a backing material or structure (as at 17) is removably and adhesively attached to the adhesive material. The backing material is preferably formed from a substantially planar, flexible material and comprises at least one V-shape as generally referenced at 104 in FIG. 1. Notably, when linking at least four garment stiffener structures 12, the backing material 17 may well comprise a W-shape as at 105 in FIG. 2. The backing material 17 thus functions to link the garment stiffener structures 12 basically into either V-shaped or W-shaped packaging arrangement(s).

Each garment stiffener structure 12 is removably and adhesively attached to the backing material 17 (via the adhesive material 16) such that adjacent edges 19 of the garment stiffener structures 12 are juxtaposed one another adjacent a foldable space as at 24. The backing material 17 thus links the garment stiffener structures 12 into at least one V-shaped packaging arrangement as at 30 respectively foldable at the foldable space(s) 24 via the backing material 17 for collapsing the garment stiffener structures 12 into a series of non-adhesively stacked and interconnected garment stiffener structures 12 as generally depicted in FIG. 6.

In this last regard, it is noted that when a first garment stiffener structure 12 (with permanently applied adhesive material 16) is removed from the backing material 17, a backing surface segment as at 25 becomes exposed. The backing material 17 remains foldable at the foldable space 24 such that the exposed backing surface segment may fold into non-adhesive contact with an exposed stiffener face 15, and thus the backing material may also function to protect the exposed stiffener face 15 from abrasions for maintaining the transparency of the stiffener structure 12 (it being noted that surface abrasions often obscure the transparency of otherwise translucent material).

In addition to the foregoing structural considerations, it is further believed that the inventive concepts discussed support certain new methodologies and/or processes. In this regard, it is contemplated that the foregoing structures support a garment stiffener packaging method and/or a garment stiffening method. It is believed the packaging method, for example, may well provide a user with ready access to a series of interconnected garment stiffener structures and comprises the steps, including provision of at least two garment stiffener structures and a backing material of the types earlier specified.

A permanent adhesive material may be applied to the adhesive-receiving stiffener faces of the garment stiffener structures and the backing material may be removably and adhesively applied to the garment stiffener structures via the permanent adhesive material such that adjacent edges of the garment stiffener structures are juxtaposed one another adjacent a foldable space, thereby linking the garment stiffener structures into at least one V-shaped packaging arrangement. The V-shaped packaging arrangement is thus foldable at the foldable space(s) via the backing material for collapsing the garment stiffener structures into a series of non-adhesively stacked and interconnected garment stiffener structures.

The garment stiffening method is believed to essentially function to render a portion of a garment substantially planar or stiff, and may be said to comprise a series of steps, including the provision of a first or primary garment stiffener assembly as generally referenced at 26 in FIGS. 14 and 15. The primary garment stiffener assembly 10 may be said to comprise a primary garment stiffener structure as at 12, a primary adhesive material as at 16, and a primary backing material as at 17 substantially as previously specified.

A target garment portion 13 such as a flexible (or wrinkled) shirt collar 11 or a flexible sleeve cuff 18 may then be identified, whereafter the primary backing material may be removed from the primary adhesive material thereby selectively exposing the primary adhesive material; and thus the primary garment stiffener structure may be adhesively applied to the identified target garment portion 13 via the selectively exposed primary adhesive material 16 thereby rendering the flexible target garment portion 13 substantially planar via the substantially planar, relatively-rigid primary garment stiffener structure 12.

Notably, the target garment portion 13comprises an exposed garment surface as at 27, a hidden garment surface as at 28, and angled portion as at 29. Preferably, although not critically (given the transparency or translucency of the stiffener structure 12), the primary garment stiffener structure 12 is attached to the identified target garment portion at the hidden garment surface 28. Further, the primary garment stiffener structure 12 with applied primary adhesive material 16 may be aligned adjacent the angled portion 19 before adhesively attaching the primary garment stiffener structure 12 to the identified target garment portion 13.

As has been previously noted, the identified target garment portion 13 has first and second garment dimensions as at 100 and 101, wherein the first garment dimension 100 is generally greater than the second garment dimension 101. Further noted, a rhombic garment stiffener structure 12 (first and second stiffener dimensions as at 102 and 103) comprises the first stiffener dimension 102 greater than the second stiffener dimension 103, and thus the step of aligning the garment stiffener structure 12 may be said to comprise certain steps, including aligning the first stiffener dimension 102 with the first garment dimension 100; and aligning the second stiffener dimension 103 with the second garment dimension 101 for maximizing stiffening performance of the primary garment stiffener structure 12.

Referencing FIGS. 14-17, it is further contemplated that the garment stiffening method may be said to comprise provision of at least one secondary garment stiffener assembly substantially identical to the primary garment stiffener assembly. Secondary backing material may be removed from secondary adhesive material of the secondary garment stiffener assembly thereby selectively exposing the secondary adhesive material. The secondary garment stiffener assembly may then be adhesively attached to the primary exposed stiffener face of the primary garment stiffener structure via the selectively exposed secondary adhesive material thereby rendering the target garment portion substantially planar via the substantially planar, relatively-rigid primary and secondary garment stiffener structures.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments and certain methodologies, it is not intended that the novel arrangement and methods be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures and the appended drawings.

Claims

1. A garment stiffener packaging arrangement, said packaging arrangement for providing ready access to a series of interconnected, adhesively attachable garment stiffener structures, said packaging arrangement comprising:

at least two garment stiffener structures, each garment stiffener structure being formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigid material into a select stiffener shape, each garment stiffener structure having an adhesive-receiving stiffener face and an exposed stiffener face;

an adhesive material permanently applied to the adhesive-receiving stiffener face of each garment stiffener structure; and

a backing material, the backing material being formed from a substantially planar, flexible material and comprising a select backing shape, each garment stiffener structure being removably and adhesively attached to the backing material such that respectively opposed edges of the garment stiffener structures are juxtaposed one another adjacent a foldable space, the backing material thereby linking the garment stiffener structures into at least one selectively shaped packaging arrangement, each selectively shaped packaging arrangement being respectively foldable at the foldable space via the backing material for collapsing the garment stiffener structures into a series of non-adhesively stacked and interconnected garment stiffener structures.

2. The packaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the select stiffener shape is quadrilateral and the select backing shape comprises a V-shape, the backing material thereby linking the garment stiffener structures into at least one V-shaped packaging arrangement.

3. The packaging arrangement of claim 2 comprising at least four garment stiffener structures, the backing material comprising a W-shape, the backing material thereby linking the garment stiffener structures into at least one W-shaped packaging arrangement.

4. The packaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the quadrilateral shape of the garment stiffener structures is a parallelogram shape, the parallelogram shape for providing enhanced garment stiffening function.

5. The packaging arrangement of claim 4 wherein the parallelogram shape of the garment stiffener structures is rhomboid, the rhomboid shape for providing enhanced garment stiffening function.

6. The packaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the exposed stiffener faces are folded into contact with one another, said folded and contacting exposed stiffener faces for protecting each other from abrasions.

7. The packaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein a first garment stiffener structure, when adhesively removed from the backing material, forms an exposed backing surface segment, the backing material being foldable at the foldable space such that the exposed backing surface segment folds into non-adhesive contact with an exposed stiffener face, the backing material thus for protecting the exposed stiffener face from abrasion.

8. The packaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the garment stiffener structures and the adhesive material are translucent and the backing material is opaque, the respective translucent and opaque characteristics of the garment stiffener structures, the adhesive material, and the backing material for enabling the user to visually distinguish the backing material from the garment stiffener structures and adhesive material.

9. The packaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein at least one garment stiffener structure comprises a perforation, the perforation for enabling the user to selectively shape the garment stiffener structure.

10. A garment stiffener packaging method, said packaging method for providing ready access to a series of interconnected garment stiffener structures, said packaging method comprising the steps of:

providing at least two garment stiffener structures, each garment stiffener structure being formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigid material into a select stiffener shape, each garment stiffener structure having an adhesive-receiving stiffener face and an exposed stiffener face;

providing a backing material, the backing material being formed from a substantially planar, flexible material and comprising a select backing shape;

applying a permanent adhesive material to the adhesive-receiving stiffener faces; and

removably and adhesively applying the backing material to the garment stiffener structures via the permanent adhesive material such that opposed edges of the garment stiffener structures are juxtaposed one another adjacent a foldable space, thereby linking the garment stiffener structures into at least one selectively shaped packaging arrangement.

11. The packaging method of claim 10 comprising the step of folding the selectively shaped packaging arrangement at the foldable space via the backing material for collapsing the garment stiffener structures into a series of non-adhesively stacked and interconnected garment stiffener structures.

12. The packaging method of claim 11 wherein the exposed stiffener faces are folded into contact with one another, said folded and contacting exposed stiffener faces for protecting each other from abrasion.

13. A garment stiffener assembly, said garment stiffener assembly for providing a user with means for rendering a flexible portion of a garment substantially planar, said garment stiffener assembly comprising:

a garment stiffener structure, the garment stiffener structure being formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigid material into a select stiffener shape, each garment stiffener structure having an adhesive-receiving stiffener face, and an exposed stiffener face;

an adhesive material permanently applied to the adhesive-receiving stiffener face; and

a backing material, the backing material being formed from a substantially planar, flexible material, the garment stiffener structure being removably and adhesively attached to the backing material via the adhesive material, the backing material thereby temporarily covering the adhesive material for selective exposure and adhesive attachment to a flexible target garment portion, the garment stiffener structure, when adhesively attached to the flexible target garment portion for rendering the flexible target garment portion substantially planar.

14. The garment stiffener assembly of claim 13 wherein the select stiffener shape of the garment stiffener structure is a parallelogram shape, the parallelogram shape for rendering the target garment portion substantially planar in at least a parallelogram shape.

15. The garment stiffener assembly of claim 14 wherein the parallelogram shape of the garment stiffener structure is rhomboid, the rhomboid shape for rendering the target garment portion planar in at least a rhomboid shape.

16. The garment stiffener assembly of claim 13 wherein the garment stiffener structure and the adhesive material are translucent, the translucent characteristic of the garment stiffener structure and the adhesive material for camouflaging the garment stiffener structure when adhesively attached to the target garment portion.

17. The garment stiffener assembly of claim 16 wherein the backing material is opaque, the opaque backing material for enabling the user to visually distinguish the backing material from the garment stiffener structures and adhesive material for enhancing removal therefrom.

18. The garment stiffener assembly of claim 13 wherein the garment stiffener structure comprises a perforation, the perforation for enabling the user to selectively shape the garment stiffener structure.

19. A garment stiffening method, the garment stiffening method for rendering a flexible portion of a garment substantially planar, the garment stiffening method comprising the steps of:

providing a primary garment stiffener assembly, the primary garment stiffener assembly comprising: a primary garment stiffener structure, a primary adhesive material, and a primary backing material, the primary garment stiffener structure being formed from a substantially planar, semi-rigid material into a select stiffener shape, the primary garment stiffener structure having a primary adhesive-receiving stiffener face and a primary exposed stiffener face, the primary adhesive material being permanently applied to the primary adhesive-receiving stiffener face, the primary backing material being formed from a substantially planar, flexible material, the garment stiffener structure being removably and adhesively attached to the primary backing material via the primary adhesive material;

identifying a flexible target garment portion;

removing the primary backing material from the primary adhesive material thereby selectively exposing the primary adhesive material; and

adhesively attaching the primary garment stiffener structure to the identified target garment portion via the selectively exposed primary adhesive material thereby rendering the target garment portion substantially planar via the substantially planar, semi-rigid primary garment stiffener structure.

20. The garment stiffening method of claim 19 wherein the identified target garment portion comprises an exposed garment surface and a hidden garment surface, the primary garment stiffener structure being attached to the identified target garment portion at the hidden garment surface.

21. The garment stiffening method of claim 19 wherein the identified target garment portion comprises an angled portion, the method comprising the step of aligning the primary garment stiffener structure with applied primary adhesive material adjacent the angled portion before adhesively attaching the primary garment stiffener structure to the identified target garment portion.

22. The garment stiffening method of claim 21 wherein the identified target garment portion has first and second garment dimensions, the first garment dimension being greater than the second garment dimension, the garment stiffener structure being rhomboid, the rhomboid garment stiffener structure having first and second stiffener dimensions, the first stiffener dimension being greater than the second stiffener dimension, the step of aligning the garment stiffener structure comprising the steps of:

a. aligning the first stiffener dimension with the first garment dimension; and

b. aligning the second stiffener dimension with the second garment dimension, said steps for maximizing stiffening performance of the primary garment stiffener structure.

23. The garment stiffening method of claim 19 comprising the steps of:

providing a secondary garment stiffener assembly, the secondary garment stiffener assembly being substantially identical to the primary garment stiffener assembly;

removing secondary backing material from secondary adhesive material of the secondary garment stiffener assembly thereby selectively exposing the secondary adhesive material; and

adhesively attaching the secondary garment stiffener structure to the primary exposed stiffener face of the primary garment stiffener structure via the selectively exposed secondary adhesive material thereby rendering the target garment portion substantially planar via the substantially planar, semi-rigid primary and secondary garment stiffener structures.

24. The garment stiffening method of claim 19 comprising the steps of:

forming a perforation in the primary garment stiffener structure;

selectively shaping the primary garment stiffener structure via the perforation for enhancing alignment of the primary garment stiffener structure adjacent the identified target garment portion.