Bias tape maker

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6641516
  • Patent Number
    6,641,516
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 27, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 4, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A bias tape maker includes an outer shell including a tape entering port and a tape exiting port for introduction and exit of a main tape, respectively, and an inner core fitted in the outer shell for defining a main tape passage between the outer shell and the inner core. The main tape passage has a tape folding portion for folding longitudinal margins of the main tape toward each other. The outer shell is provided with an auxiliary tape entry window adjacent the tape exiting port for introducing an auxiliary tape into the tape folding portion of the main tape passage.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a device for making a bias tape which is mainly used for finishing or decorating clothing or the like. Such a device is referred to as a bias tape maker.




2. Description of the Related Art




A bias tape is a narrow strip of cloth having a pair of longitudinal margins folded toward each other. Such a bias tape may be made by cutting a cloth diagonally across the weave to provide an elongate bias cloth, and then folding the longitudinal margins of the bias cloth toward each other. The bias tape thus provided has a good stretch and a high flexibility so that it is suited for use in finishing or decorating clothes or the like.





FIG. 10

illustrates atypical prior art bias tape maker. The bias tape maker


100


comprises an outer shell


102


and an inner core


103


for insertion into the outer shell


102


. The outer shell


102


, which may be made by bending a thin metal plate, has a generally tubular configuration which is progressively flattened toward its front end. The outer shell


102


includes a pair of roof margins


21


.




The inner core


103


, which may be made of a resin, tapers from its rear end toward its front end. The inner core


103


is formed with a generally triangular platform


131


which is laterally formed with a pair of longitudinal engaging grooves


32


.




As shown in

FIG. 11

, by engaging the roof margins


21


of the outer shell


102


with the engaging grooves


3


, the outer shell


102


is assembled with the inner core


103


. In the bias tape maker


100


thus assembled, a tape folding portion (not specifically shown) is defined between the inner core


102


and the outer shell


103


.




In use, a bias cloth


11


is introduced into the bias tape maker


100


from the rear end thereof. In advancing through the non-illustrated tape folding portion toward the front end of the tape maker


100


, the bias cloth


11


is continuously formed into a bias tape


1


provided with a pair of longitudinally extending folds


11




a


. The bias tape


1


thus formed is pulled out from the front end of the bias tape maker


100


. The folds


11




a


may then be fixed or set by ironing for example.




The bias tape thus provided may be fixed on clothing for example in the following manner. First, the bias tape is bent into a desired configuration and ironed for example for setting the configuration. Then, the bias tape is disposed on clothing and provisionally fixed thereon with pins or needles for example. Then, the bias tape is sewed onto the clothing. Thus, the fixing process is rather complicated and troublesome.




For easier fixation, a bias tape is known which is provided with an auxiliary adhesive tape. Such a bias tape is hereinafter referred to as adhesive bias tape an example of which is shown in FIG.


9


. As shown in the figure, the adhesive bias tape


1


comprises a bias cloth


11


(hereafter referred to as “main tape”) including a pair of folds


11




a


, and an auxiliary tape


12


attached on the main tape


11


. The auxiliary tape


12


, which is in the form of a narrow strip, comprises an adhesive layer


12




a


which becomes tacky or sticky by heating, and a releasable substrate


12




b


, such as a silicone sheet, for releasably carrying the adhesive layer


12




a.






For fixing the adhesive bias tape


1


onto clothing for example, the user removes the releasable substrate


12




b


from the adhesive layer


12




a


. Then, while bending the bias tape


1


into a desired configuration, the user provisionally fixes the bias tape


1


onto the clothing by ironing, and then sews it onto the clothing. Thus, the adhesive bias tape


1


can be fixed more easily than an ordinary (non-adhesive) bias tape.




Such an adhesive bias tape


1


may be formed by disposing an auxiliary tape


12


on the folds


11




a


of a main tape


11


and then bonding the auxiliary tape


12


to the bias tape


1


by thermally melting the adhesive layer


41


by ironing for example.




However, such fabrication of an adhesive bias tape has the following problems. Firstly, since both the auxiliary tape


12


and the main tape


11


are in the form of a narrow strip, it is difficult to accurately position the auxiliary tape relative to the main tape. Secondly, the ironing need be performed twice, i.e., for setting the folds


11




a


of the main tape


11


and for bonding the auxiliary tape


12


to the main tape


11


, which is troublesome.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bias tape maker which facilitates the formation of an adhesive bias tape.




According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bias tape maker comprises an outer shell including a tape entering port and a tape exiting port for introduction and exit of a main tape, respectively, and an inner core fitted in the outer shell for defining a main tape passage between the outer shell and the inner core. The main tape passage includes a tape folding portion for folding longitudinal margins of the main tape toward each other. The outer shell is provided with an auxiliary tape entry window adjacent the tape exiting port for introducing an auxiliary tape into the tape folding portion of the main tape passage.




Preferably, the auxiliary tape entry window has a width equal to or slightly larger than that of the auxiliary tape.




In a preferred embodiment, the outer shell comprises a pair of roof margins which extend toward each other into abutment adjacent the tape exiting port, and the auxiliary tape entry window is defined by a cutout formed in the pair of roof margins adjacent the tape exiting port.




Preferably, the auxiliary tape guide groove may be aligned with the auxiliary tape entry window longitudinally of the auxiliary tape.




Preferably, the auxiliary tape guide groove has a width generally equal to that of the auxiliary tape.




Preferably, the upper portion of the inner core has a front end partially extending into the auxiliary tape entry window.




Preferably, the upper portion of the inner core has a rear end formed with a handle which in turn is formed with an auxiliary tape guide hole for introducing the auxiliary tape toward the auxiliary tape guide groove.




Preferably, the auxiliary tape guide hole may be aligned with the auxiliary tape guide groove and the auxiliary tape entry window longitudinally of the auxiliary tape.




Preferably, the handle is inclined backwardly upward, the auxiliary tape guide hole being provided at a base end of the handle.




According to a second aspect of the present invention, a bias tape maker comprises an outer shell including a tape entering port and a tape exiting port for introduction and exit of a main tape, respectively, and an inner core fitted in the outer shell for defining a main tape passage between the outer shell and the inner core. The main tape passage includes a tape folding portion for folding longitudinal margins of the main tape toward each other. The inner core includes an upper portion formed with an auxiliary tape guide groove for guiding an auxiliary tape toward the tape exiting port.




Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing a bias tape maker, together with a bias tape, according to an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a plan view showing an outer shell of the bias tape maker shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a side view, partially in section, showing the inner structure of the bias tape maker shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a sectional view taken along lines IV—IV in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 5

is a sectional view taken along lines V—V in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 6

is a sectional view taken along lines VI—VI in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view showing an inner core of the bias tape maker shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view showing the bias tape maker of

FIG. 1

without a bias tape.





FIG. 9

is a schematic perspective view showing an adhesive bias tape which is made by the bias tape maker of the present invention.





FIG. 10

is an exploded perspective view showing a prior art bias tape maker.





FIG. 11

is a schematic perspective view showing the same prior art bias tape maker.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to

FIGS. 1 through 8

of the accompanying drawings.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, there is illustrated a bias tape maker A for making an adhesive bias tape


1


which includes a main tape


11


of a cloth or fabric and an auxiliary adhesive tape


12


(see also FIG.


9


). After biasing with the bias tape maker A, the main tape


11


has a pair of longitudinal edges


11




a


folded toward each other and joined together by the auxiliary tape


12


to form a closed loop which is flattened. The auxiliary tape


12


includes an adhesive layer


12




a


carried on a releasable substrate


12




b


of a silicone paper for example. The adhesive layer


12




a


has such a nature that it becomes tacky only when heated.




The bias tape maker A comprises an outer shell


2


, and an inner core


3


for fitting into the outer shell


2


. The outer shell


2


may be made by cutting or punching a thin metal plate into a predetermined configuration and bending the plate. The inner core


3


may be molded of a resin.




As shown in

FIGS. 2

,


3


and


8


, the outer shell


2


includes a bottom wall


22


, a pair of sidewalls


23


rising from the bottom wall


22


, and a pair of roof margins


21


bent at the respective side walls


23


toward each other. The outer shell


2


tapers from its rear end to its front end.




The roof margins


21


include mutually abutting portions


21




a


near the front end of the outer shell


2


(see particularly FIG.


8


). Thus, the outer shell


2


provides a tape exiting port


24


at its front end. Each of the roof margins


21


includes an engaging portion


21




b


for engagement with a corresponding engaging groove


32


of the inner core


3


when the inner core


3


is assembled with the outer shell


2


(see particularly FIGS.


2


-


4


). The engaging portion


21




b


is formed with a generally triangular engaging notch


21




c


for engagement with a corresponding engaging projection (not shown) formed in the engaging groove


32


, thereby preventing the inner core


3


from being unexpectedly detached from the outer shell


2


.




Each of the roof margins


21


is further formed with a cutout


21




d


(

FIG. 2

) which defines an auxiliary tape entry window


5


adjacent the tape exiting port


24


together with the counterpart cutout


21




d


of the other roof margin


21


. The window


5


has a width W


w


which is equal to or slightly larger than the width of the auxiliary tape


12


. As shown in

FIG. 8

, when the outer shell


2


and the inner core


3


are assembled, a front end portion


3




a


of the inner core


3


advances partially into the window


5


. However, the window


5


is still kept open for introducing the auxiliary tape


12


into the outer shell


2


adjacent the tape exiting port


24


. Alternatively, the window


5


may be defined solely by the outer shell


2


as spaced away from the front end


3




a


of the inner core


3


.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the bottom wall


22


of the outer shell


2


is formed with a tape advancing slot


29


provided between the front end and the rear end of the outer shell


2


. The function of the tape advancing slot


29


will be described later.




As shown in

FIGS. 3 and 7

, the inner core


3


tapers from its rear end toward its front end. Each of the longitudinal engaging grooves


32


is formed on a respective side surface of the inner core


3


and extends forwardly downward for engagement with the corresponding roof margin


21


of the outer shell


2


, as previously described. The inner core


3


mainly comprises two integral portions, i.e., an upper portion located above the engaging grooves


32


and a lower portion located below the engaging grooves


32


. When the inner core


3


is assembled with the outer shell


2


, the upper portion is exposed, whereas the lower portion is enclosed in the outer shell


2


.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the inner core


3


is provided, on its top, with an auxiliary tape guide groove


31


extending longitudinally of the bias tape maker A for guiding the auxiliary tape


12


toward the auxiliary tape entry window


5


. The guide groove


31


generally corresponds in width to the auxiliary tape


12


. As shown in

FIG. 4

, the guide groove


31


is defined by a bottom surface


31




b


and a pair of side walls


31




a


. The bottom surface


31




b


has a width WT which is equal to or slightly larger than that of the auxiliary tape


12


. Each side wall


31




a


has a height which is larger than the thickness of the auxiliary tape


12


. Thus, it is possible to smoothly advance the auxiliary tape


12


along the guide groove


31


.




As shown in

FIGS. 3 and 7

, the inner core


3


is formed, at its rear end of the upper portion, with a handle


6


which is inclined backwardly upward. The handle


6


is formed with an auxiliary tape guide hole


61


(

FIG. 7

) for guiding the auxiliary tape


12


. The guide hole


61


has a width which is equal to or slightly larger than that of the auxiliary tape


12


for allowing insertion of the auxiliary tape


12


. As shown in

FIG. 8

, the guide hole


61


, the guide groove


31


and the window


5


are aligned longitudinally of the bias tape maker A.




As shown in

FIG. 7

, the lower portion of the inner core


3


below the engaging grooves


32


comprises a larger width portion


34


, a smaller width portion


35


, and a generally triangular portion


36


. The larger width portions


34


and the triangular portion


36


are continuous with each other and provides a flat upper surface


36




a


on each side of the auxiliary tape guide grove


31


. As shown in

FIG. 3

, each of the engaging grooves


32


is defined between this flat surface


36




a


and the corresponding side wall


31




a


of the guide groove


31


. The smaller width portion


35


is located below the larger width portion


34


and the triangular portion


36


. The upper surface of the smaller width portion


35


is divided by the triangular portion


36


into two triangular surfaces


35




a.






As shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, when the outer shell


2


and the inner core


3


are assembled, a tape inserting portion R


1


and a tape folding portion R


2


are formed between the outer shell


2


and the inner core


3


. The tape inserting portion R


1


extends from the rear end of the outer shell


2


for inserting the main tape


11


, whereas the tape folding portion R


2


extends from the tape inserting portion R


1


to the tape exiting port


24


for folding the longitudinal margins


11




a


of the main tape


11


toward each other. Specifically, in passing through the tape inserting portion R


1


, the main tape


11


is bent to have a U-shaped cross section with the longitudinal margins


11




a


raised. On the other hand, in passing through the tape folding portion R


2


, the longitudinal margins


11




a


of the main tape


11


are folded toward each other, thereby turning into a pair of folds


11




a.






For making an adhesive bias tape


1


, the above-described bias tape maker A may be used in the following manner.




First, a main tape


11


is introduced into the tape inserting portion R


1


from the rear end of the bias tape maker A. Then, the main tape


11


is advanced until the leading end of the main tape


11


is exposed at the tape advancing slot


29


. In this state, the user can advance the main tape


11


by making access to the main tape


11


via the tape advancing slot


29


directly with a finger or a short engaging article (not shown). In subsequently passing through the tape folding portion R


2


, the longitudinal edges


11




a


of the main tape


11


are folded toward each other, as described before.




Finally, the main tape


11


is pulled out from the tape exiting port


24


by the user nipping the leading end of the tape


11


(see FIG.


1


).




Then, as shown in

FIG. 1

, an auxiliary tape


12


is introduced from the rear side of the handle


6


into the guide hole


61


and is advanced along the guide groove


31


. Then, the leading end of the auxiliary tape


12


is inserted through the window


5


into the bias tape maker A. The auxiliary tape


12


is pushed until its leading end projects out from the tape exiting port


24


. As shown in

FIG. 6

, upon passing in front of the inner core


3


, the auxiliary tape


12


lies on the folded longitudinal margins


11




a


of the main tape


11


.




While pulling out the auxiliary tape


12


together with the main tape


11


from the tape exiting port


24


, ironing may be performed from above the auxiliary tape


24


. As a result, the folded longitudinal margins


11




a


of the main tape


11


are fixed or set, and at the same time, the auxiliary tape


12


is bonded to the folded longitudinal margins


11




a


of the main tape


11


, thus providing an adhesive bias tape


1


.




With the bias tape maker A according to the present invention, it is possible to pull out the auxiliary tape


12


together with the main tape


11


from the tape exiting port


24


with the auxiliary tape


12


accurately positioned on the folded main tape


11


. Therefore, unlike the prior art bias tape maker, the user need not perform a separate step of accurately positioning the auxiliary tape relative to the main tape. Moreover, the setting of the folds


11




s


and the bonding of the auxiliary tape


12


to the main tape


11


can be performed simultaneously by a single ironing step. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently make an adhesive bias tape


1


.




Moreover, since the window


5


, the guide groove


31


and the guide hole


61


are aligned longitudinally of the bias tape maker A, the auxiliary tape


12


can be reliably and smoothly introduced into the window


5


and pulled out from the tape exiting port


24


without lateral rubbing. As a result, it is possible to prevent the auxiliary tape


12


from breaking due to friction.




Further, by holding the handle


6


of the inner core


3


, the user can press the bottom wall


22


of the outer shell


2


against the workbench, thereby preventing the adhesive bias tape


1


from being unexpectedly lifted from the workbench during ironing. Therefore, the ironing of the adhesive bias tape


1


can be performed efficiently. Since the guide hole


61


is formed at the base end of the handle


6


, the user can hold the handle


6


without contacting the auxiliary tape


12


, thereby preventing the auxiliary tape


12


from being undesirably deformed. Thus, the user can perform efficient ironing without the need for taking care not to deform the auxiliary tape


12


.




The preferred embodiment of the present invention being thus described, it is obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. For instance, the main tape


11


may be made of any material other than cloth or fabric. The bottom of the smaller width portion


35


may be formed with downwardly directed grooves to reduce the contact area between the main tape


11


and the smaller width portion


35


for enabling smooth movement of the main tape


11


. Such variations are not regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such variations as would be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be included in the scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A bias tape maker comprising:an outer shell including a tape entering port and a tape exiting port for introduction and exit of a main tape, respectively; and an inner core fitted in the outer shell for defining a main tape passage between the outer shell and the inner core, the main tape passage including a tape folding portion for folding longitudinal margins of the main tape toward each other; wherein the outer shell is provided with an auxiliary tape entry window means adjacent the tape exiting port for introducing an auxiliary tape into the tape folding portion of the main tape passage.
  • 2. The bias tape maker according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary tape entry window means has a smaller width than the tape exiting port.
  • 3. The bias tape maker according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a pair of roof margins which extend toward each other into abutment adjacent the tape exiting port, the auxiliary tape entry window means being defined by a cutout formed in the pair of roof margins adjacent the tape exiting port.
  • 4. The bias tape maker according to claim 3, wherein the inner core includes a lower portion enclosed in the outer shell and an upper portion projecting above the pair of roof margins, the pair of roof margins engaging the inner core at a portion spaced from the tape exiting port, the upper portion of the inner core being formed with an auxiliary tape guide groove for guiding the auxiliary tape toward the auxiliary tape entry window means.
  • 5. The bias tape maker according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary tape guide groove is aligned with the auxiliary tape entry window means longitudinally of the auxiliary tape.
  • 6. The bias tape maker according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary tape guide groove has a smaller width than the tape exiting port.
  • 7. The bias tape maker according to claim 4, wherein the upper portion of the inner core has a front end partially extending into the auxiliary tape entry window means.
  • 8. The bias tape maker according to claim 4, wherein the upper portion of the inner core has a rear end formed with a handle which in turn is formed with an auxiliary tape guide hole for introducing the auxiliary tape toward the auxiliary tape guide groove.
  • 9. The bias tape maker according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary tape guide hole is aligned with the auxiliary tape guide groove and the auxiliary tape entry window means longitudinally of the auxiliary tape.
  • 10. The bias tape maker according to claim 8, wherein the handle is inclined backwardly upward, the auxiliary tape guide hole being provided at a base end of the handle.
  • 11. A combination of a bias tape maker, a main tape and an auxiliary tape, the bias tape maker comprising:an outer shell including a tape entering port and a tape exiting port for introduction and exit of the main tape, respectively; and an inner core fitted in the outer shell for defining a main tape passage between the outer shell and the inner core, the main tape passage including a tape folding portion for folding longitudinal margins of the main tape toward each other; wherein the inner core includes an upper portion formed with an auxiliary tape guide groove for guiding the auxiliary tape toward the tape exiting port.
  • 12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the auxiliary tape guide groove has a width generally equal to that of the auxiliary tape.
  • 13. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the inner core has a rear end formed with a handle which in turn is formed with an auxiliary tape guide hole for introducing the auxiliary tape toward the auxiliary tape guide groove.
  • 14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the auxiliary tape guide hole is aligned with the auxiliary tape guide groove longitudinally of the auxiliary tape.
  • 15. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the handle is inclined backwardly upward, the auxiliary tape guide hole being provided at a base end of the handle.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2001-122083 Apr 2001 JP
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
351452 Marsh et al. Oct 1886 A
1723543 De Santis Aug 1929 A
1771328 Gabel Jul 1930 A
2956799 Wasson Oct 1960 A