APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BINDING FABRICS
A device for connecting two or more pieces of fabric. The devices is formed as a bonding strip having a base and a plurality of spikes extending from the base. The bonding strip is formed of a material having a forming temperature that is lower than that of the fabric to be bonded. To bond the two or more pieces of fabric, the spikes are pushed through the fabric. The spikes are then formed at a temperature that is at least as high as the forming temperature of the bonding strip but lower than the forming temperature of the fabric. The forming can be performed so that the spikes bend over and press against the fabric. The spikes can be arranged on first and second rows along the bonding strip, and the forming can be performed such that spikes from the first strip connect with spikes of the second strip.
The presently disclosed embodiments relate to garment manufacture and more particularly to a novel device for binding two pieces of fabric with a mechanical bond.
BACKGROUNDThe art of textile and garment manufacturing has been around for many centuries. Often the fabrication of garments requires various pieces of fabric to be joined together at a seam. Traditionally, this has been performed by sewing, wherein a thread is used to stitch two or more pieces of fabric together in a desired manner to form a garment.
More recently adhesive bonds have been used to join fabrics together. This can involve the use of an adhesive material such as glue or could also involve heating certain textile materials to the point where they diffuse and melt together.
All of the previously used forming methods suffer from disadvantages. For example, once the fabrics have been joined together in this manner, they are difficult or impossible to take apart for rework. Attempting to undo an adhesive bond can be impossible and can lead to damage of the fabric. Undoing a stitched seam is very tedious and labor intensive. In addition, certain marks and damage can remain on the fabric after the stitching has been undone.
In addition, each of these methods of connecting fabric can be very tedious and labor intensive. This increases manufacturing costs and reduces manufacturing throughput. The labor intensiveness has led to garment manufacturing being located primarily in regions with access to inexpensive labor.
In addition, the tooling and skill required to bond fabrics by stitching or adhesive bonding has limited the ability of hobbyists, people without proper tooling or those with limited sewing skills to be able to construct garments on their own.
SUMMARYThe present embodiments provide a device for bonding two or more pieces of fabric. The device includes a base and a plurality of spikes extending from the base. The base and the plurality of spikes are formed of a polymer material having a forming temperature lower than a forming temperature of an intended fabric to be bonded.
The present embodiments can also provide a garment including first and second pieces of fabric and a bonding strip having a base and a plurality of spikes extending through the first and second pieces of fabric. The spikes can be bent over to press the first and second pieces of fabric against the base so as to secure the first and second pieces of fabric to the bonding strip.
The bonding strip can be constructed of a material having a lower forming temperature than the first and second pieces of fabric. In one embodiment, the bonding strip can comprise a polymer, and the first and second pieces of fabric can comprise a natural fiber.
The base of the device can have an elongated shape having a long dimension such as a rectangular shape or a strip. The spikes can be formed on two rows arranged along the long dimension of the strip. The two rows of spikes can be arranged along the first and second edges of the base.
The spikes of the device can be configured to extend through one or more pieces of fabric in order to connect the two pieces of fabric. The spikes and base can be integral with one another and formed as a single piece of polymer material.
The device, spikes and base, can be formed of a material having a forming temperature that is less than 200 F, or between 175 F and 250 F. The device spikes and base can be constructed of for example, thermoplastic such as Worbla™ or thermoplastic elastomer composite.
The embodiments can also provide a method for joining one or more pieces of fabric. The method includes providing a bonding strip having a base and a plurality of spikes extending from the base, the bonding strip being formed of a material having a forming temperature. The spikes of the bonding strip are extended through the two or more pieces of fabric. The bonding strip is then brought to a temperature that is at least as high as the forming temperature of the bonding strip, and the spikes are then formed while the bonding strip is at this temperature.
The spikes can be deformed by bending the spikes and pressing them flat against the fabric. This can be performed by applying pressure from a seaming roll to press the spikes against the fabric.
The fabric to be joined can have a forming temperature higher than that of the bonding strip and the forming of the spikes can be performed at a temperature that is between the temperature of the bonding strip and the forming temperature of the fabric. The bonding strip can be constructed such that the spikes extend from the base in first and second rows and such that the spikes of the first row are aligned with the spikes of the second row. The deformation of the spikes can be performed such that the spikes of the first row contact and bond with spikes of the second row. In some embodiments the bonding strip can be a polymer, whereas the fabric can be an organic material such as cotton, wool or a blend of synthetic and organic material.
These and other features and advantages will be apparent to one of skill in the art upon reading of the following detailed description of the embodiments in conjunction with the figures. In the figures, like reference numerals used in more than one figure indicate a like element, and may be considered in light of the description of the like element presented in any of the other figures having the like element.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages, as well as the preferred mode of use, reference should be made to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not presented to scale unless specified otherwise on an individual basis.
The following description includes the best embodiments presently contemplated for carrying out the embodiments. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein in any way.
The bonding of fabrics in the garment industry involves technologies that include stitching with thread or bonding with adhesive. While these technologies have been used for many years, they each have drawbacks. For example, stitching garments can be time consuming and does not allow for easy reworking if the stitching process was not performed correctly. Reworking such stitched garment requires laborious, careful cutting of the stitching thread. In addition, even if the stitches are successfully removed, they can leave marks on the fabric that can be visible in the finished garment.
Adhesive bonding does not form a mechanical bond, and therefore does not necessarily provide a secure connection of the fabric. In addition, to an even greater extent than stitching adhesive bonding does not allow for reworking if the bonding process is not perfectly performed. As there is no way to undo the adhesive bonding process, a garment must be scrapped if the process is performed incorrectly.
The embodiments which are described herein below provide a quick and easy mechanism for bonding that can be easily reworked especially in an intermediate stage of manufacture.
For example, as shown in
At this point in the bonding process, if the connection of the fabric pieces 302, 304 is not quite right, for example, there is an unintended wrinkle in one or more of the fabric pieces 302, 304 or one pieces is too tight or too loose, either of the fabric pieces 302, 304 can be easily removed and reattached by pulling the fabric piece 302, 304 off of the spikes correcting the position of the fabric pieces pressing the fabric piece back onto the bonding strip 102. This ability to easily rework the attachment of the fabric pieces provides a great advantage over previously available attachment methods such as sewing or adhesive bonding wherein the attachment would be permanent and does not allow for rework.
Fabrics and textile products more generally can be formed of many different products having many different properties. For example, fabrics can be formed of synthetic materials which are generally polymer materials such as polyether, rayon, etc. Fabrics can also be organic, plant-based products such as cotton, hemp, etc. or can be natural animal-based products such as wool. Fabrics can also be a blend of these materials.
As mentioned above, each of these different materials has unique material properties. One of the properties is forming temperature. The forming temperature of the material is the temperature at which the material can be permanently deformed and lies somewhere between the temperature at which the material is between a solid and liquid state. In most instances, the forming temperature is a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of the material.
With reference again to
The temperature at which this forming process is performed can also be sufficiently high to cause material diffusion between the spikes 106a, 106b. This can cause the spikes 106a to connect with and weld to the spikes 106b, forming a very secure bonding connection.
As shown in
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. Other embodiments falling within the scope of may also become apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the breadth and scope should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A garment product, comprising:
- a first piece of fabric;
- a second piece of fabric;
- a bonding strip having a base and a plurality of spikes extending from the base, wherein the spikes extend through the first and second pieces of fabric and are bent over the first and second pieces of fabric to secure the first and second pieces of fabric to the bonding strip, wherein the bonding strip is selected to substantially match a color of the fabric pieces.
2. The garment product as in claim 1, wherein the base has an elongated shape having a long dimension and wherein the plurality of spikes are formed in one or more rows arranged along the long dimension of the base.
3. The garment product as in claim 1, wherein the base is formed as an elongated strip having first and second edges, and wherein the spikes are formed in one or more rows.
4. The garment product as in claim 1, wherein the bonding strip is constructed of a material having a lower forming temperature than the first and second pieces of fabric.
5. The garment product as in claim 1, wherein the base and the spikes are integral with one another and formed of the same material.
6. The garment product as in claim 1, wherein the base and the spikes are constructed of a material having a forming temperature less than 200 degrees F.
7. The garment product as in claim 1, wherein the base and the spikes are formed of a material having a forming temperature between 175 degrees F. and 250 degrees F.
8. The garment product as in claim 1, wherein bonding strip comprises a polymer and the first and second pieces of fabric comprise a natural fiber.
9. A garment product for joining two or more pieces of fabric, the garment product comprising:
- a strip having a surface;
- a plurality of spikes extending from the surface of the strip;
- wherein the strip and the spikes are formed of a material having a forming temperature selected to be lower than a fabric forming temperature of the two or more pieces of fabric;
- wherein the bonding strip is selected to substantially match the color of the fabric pieces.
10. The garment product as in claim 9, wherein the strip and the spikes are formed of a polymer.
11. The garment product as in claim 9, wherein the strip and the spikes are formed of the material having a forming temperature less than 200 degrees F.
12. The garment product as in claim 9, wherein the strip and the spikes are formed of a material having a forming temperature between 175 degrees F. and 200 degrees F.
13. The garment product as in claim 9, wherein the spikes are formed in one or more rows along the length of the strip, and wherein spikes on the first row are aligned with spikes on the second row.
14. The garment product as in claim 13, wherein the spikes are formed in one or more rows along the length of the strip and wherein the spikes on the first strip are staggered from the spikes on the second strip.
15. A method for joining one or more pieces of fabric, the method comprising:
- providing a bonding strip having a base and a plurality of spikes extending from the base, the bonding strip being formed of a material having a forming temperature;
- extending the spikes of the bonding strip through two or more pieces of fabric;
- bringing the bonding strip to a temperature at least as high as the forming temperature of the bonding strip; and
- forming the spikes of the bonding strip while the bonding strip is at the temperature that is at least as high as the forming temperature of the bonding strip.
16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the forming of the spikes comprises bending the spikes and pressing them flat against the at least one of the pieces of fabric.
17. The method as in claim 15, wherein the comprises, applying pressure from a seaming roller to press the spikes against at least one of the pieces of fabric.
18. The method as in claim 15, wherein the two or more pieces of fabric having a forming temperature, and wherein the forming is performed at a temperature that is between the forming temperature of the bonding strip and the forming temperature of the two or more pieces of fabric.
19. The method as in claim 15, wherein the spikes are formed in first and second rows with the spikes of the first row being aligned with spikes of the second row, and wherein the forming is performed so as to cause spikes from the first row to contact and bond with spikes of the second row.
20. The method as in claim 15, wherein the bonding strip is formed of a polymer and the one or more pieces of fabric comprise an organic material.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2021
Publication Date: Jan 5, 2023
Inventors: Lai Chyan Chow (Daly City, CA), Rolend Gumanas (Oakland, CA), Sara Brisbin (San Francisco, CA)
Application Number: 17/364,624