Patent Application
20210007428
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0081880 filed on Jul. 8, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a button loop array and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the same, which are capable of improving the manufacturing efficiency of a button loop array that is cut into a plurality of button loops.
In general, button loops are used instead of buttonholes. Button loops made of thread or button loops made of cloth are known. In addition, button loops made of thread include single-type button loops and button loop arrays in each of which a plurality of button loops are connected to each other.
First, as an example of the conventional single-type button loop, Korean Patent No. 1958186 discloses the string adjusting loop portion (hereinafter referred to as the “conventional string adjusting loop portion”) of a “top including a string adjusting loop portion.”
The conventional string adjustment loop portion includes a closed curve portion configured to form a closed curve shape based on a string adjustment knot portion, and an anti-loosening portion formed in an area of the closed curve portion and configured to prevent the string adjustment knot portion from loosening. In addition, the conventional string adjustment loop is divided into a first region and a second region based on the anti-loosening portion, the length of the region of the first region included in the closed curve portion is fixed, and the length of the area of the second region included in the closed curve portion is adjusted according to a user's operation.
Meanwhile, the conventional string adjustment loop portion configured as described above has to be manufactured through the process of forming the anti-loosening portion in the middle of a string through tying and connecting both ends of the string by the string adjustment knot portion.
Accordingly, the conventional string adjustment loop portion has a problem in that mass production is difficult because the manufacturing efficiency of the string adjustment loop portion is low because the string adjustment loop portion has to be manufactured manually.
Furthermore, the conventional string adjustment loop portion has a problem in that a button is frequently released because the string adjustment knot portion is easily released due to the movement of a wearer during the wearing of the top and thus the loop portion is expanded.
In addition, as an example of the button loop array, Korean Patent No. 1319649 discloses a loop (hereinafter referred to as the “conventional loop”) used in “a loop attachment method.”
The conventional loop is attached on an end of a garment through a process of inserting strings into a plurality of grooves each having a curved surface, attaching an adhesive strip so that both ends of the strings are attached, separating the strings from the plurality of grooves at the state of being attached to the adhesive strip, attaching the adhesive strip, to which the plurality of strings are attached, to an end of a garment, and then sewing together the adhesive strip, to which the plurality of strings are attached, and the end of the garment.
However, the conventional loop configured as described above has a problem in that manufacturing efficiency is low because the loop is manufactured through the process of separately manufacturing the plurality of strings, attaching the plurality of strings to the adhesive strip, and then separating the adhesive strip.
The present invention has been conceived to overcome the above-described problems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a button loop array and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the button loop array, in which a single elastic yarn is produced by superimposing a plurality of spandex yarns having excellent elasticity, a woven elastic yarn is produced by weaving the single elastic yarn, and then a button loop array is produced using the single woven elastic yarn, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency of a button loop array.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a button loop array and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the button loop array, in which a single elastic yarn having strong elastic force is produced by superimposing a plurality of spandex yarns having excellent elasticity, a woven elastic yarn having strong elastic force is produced by weaving the single elastic yarn, and then a button loop array is produced using the single woven elastic yarn, thereby allowing a button to be inserted into a loop even when the loop is formed in a minimum size because the elastic force of the loop is improved.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a button loop array and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the button loop array, in which thin spandex yarns constituting a woven elastic yarn are woven and bent, thereby prevented a spandex rubber string having a different color such as white and provided inside the spandex yarns from being exposed to the outside when the loop of a button loop is stretched by pulling it in the process of inserting a button into the button loop after the button loop has been fastened to an end of a garment.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a button loop array and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the button loop array, in which the plurality of multilayered horizontal portions of a button loop are sewn together using a vertical sewing line, thereby allowing a loop to be securely fastened.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a button loop array, wherein: a woven elastic yarn formed by weaving a single elastic yarn constructed by superimposing a plurality of spandex yarns is stacked on itself in a zigzag form so that one-side bent portions, lateral horizontal portions, and opposite-side bent portions are formed in multiple layers; the horizontal portions are vertically connected by a plurality of vertical connection yarns by winding the plurality of vertical connection yarns around circumferences of the horizontal portions with; and a plurality of loops protruding to one side in loop forms are each formed on one side of adjacent two horizontal portions between two or more horizontal portions.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a button loop array, the method including: a woven elastic yarn producing step of superimposing a plurality of spandex yarns as a single elastic yarn through a guide and supply means, supplying the single elastic yarn to a circular weaving means, and producing a woven elastic yarn by using the single elastic yarn; and a button loop array producing step of repeatedly forming one-side bent portions, horizontal portions and opposite-side bent portions in a downward direction by laterally moving the woven elastic yarn in a zigzag form while moving the woven elastic yarn downward, connecting the horizontal portions by a plurality of vertical connection yarns by winding the vertical connection yarns around circumferences of the horizontal portions whenever the horizontal portions are moved downward, and forming a plurality of loops each by protruding one side of adjacent two horizontal portions between two or more horizontal portions in a loop form, thereby producing a button loop array.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a button loop array, the apparatus including: an guide and supply means configured to superimpose three spandex yarns as a single elastic yarn and to move the single elastic yarn; a circular weaving means configured to receive the single elastic yarn from the guide and supply means and to weave the single elastic yarn into a woven elastic yarn through lifting and lowering of a plurality of circular weaving needles; and a button loop array producing means configured to repeatedly form one-side bent portions, horizontal portions, and opposite-side bent portions in a downward direction by laterally moving the woven elastic yarn in a zigzag form while moving it downward, to connect the horizontal portions by a plurality of vertical connection yarns by winding the vertical connection yarns around circumferences of the horizontal portions whenever the horizontal portions are moved downward, and to form a plurality of loops each by protruding one side of adjacent two horizontal portions between two or more horizontal portions in a loop form, thereby manufacturing a button loop array.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention may be implemented in a plurality of different forms and is not limited to the described embodiments.
First, a method and apparatus for manufacturing a button loop array according to the present invention will be described below.
As shown in the drawings, the method for manufacturing a button loop array 1 according to the present invention includes a woven elastic yarn producing step 100 and a button loop array producing step 200. Furthermore, the apparatus for manufacturing a button loop array according to the present invention may include a guide and supply means 2 and a circular weaving means 3 usable in the woven elastic yarn producing step and a button loop array producing means 4 usable in the button loop array producing step 200.
In the woven elastic yarn producing step 100, a plurality of spandex yarns 11 (spandex stretch yarns) having excellent elasticity are superimposed as a single elastic yarn 12 through the guide and supply means 2, the single elastic yarn 12 is supplied to the circular weaving means 3, and then a woven elastic yarn is produced using the single elastic yarn 12.
Furthermore, each of the spandex yarns 11 is manufactured by providing at least one spandex rubber string (a spandex rubber yarn) therein and twisting at least one stretch yarn having elasticity around the outer circumference of the spandex rubber string, thereby having high elasticity and particularly having excellent restorability that immediately restores the spandex yarn 11 after being extended.
In particular, when the elasticity of the spandex yarn 11 according to the present invention, manufactured as described above, is compared with that a commonly known stretch yarn, the elasticity of the spandex yarn 11 according to the present invention is three or more times higher than that of the commonly known stretch yarn. In other words, the spandex yarn according to the present invention has the advantage of being excellent in elasticity and restorability that allows the spandex yarn 11 to be stretched three or more times more than the commonly known stretch yarn and then restored.
The plurality of spandex yarns 11 may include three spandex yarns that allow the woven elastic yarn 13 to be thin. In addition, one of the three spandex yarns 11 is preferably formed thicker than the other two spandex yarns 11 so as to improve the elasticity of the woven elastic yarn 13 while reducing the thickness of the woven elastic yarn 13. In other words, it is preferable that one of the three spandex yarns 11 be thickened and the other two be thinned. More preferably, one of the three spandex yarns 11 is two or more times thicker than the other two.
The guide and supply means 2 functions to superimpose the three spandex yarns 11, in which one thereof is formed thicker than the other two, as the single elastic yarn 12 and to move the single elastic yarn 12. Furthermore, the circular weaving means 3 functions to receive the single elastic yarn 12 from the guide and supply means 2 and weave the single elastic yarn 12 through the lifting and lowering of a plurality of circular weaving needles, thereby producing the woven elastic yarn 13. The guide and supply means 2 includes a first guide part 21 having a guide hole 211 configured to discharge the single elastic yarn 12 in such a manner that the three spandex yarns wound around a bobbin (not shown) are superimposed and passed through the guide hole 211, a guide roll 22 provided on the discharge side of the guide hole 211 and configured to discharge the single elastic yarn 12, having passed through the guide hole 211, downward, and a horizontal guide part 23 including a vertical guide hole 231 provided below the discharge side of the guide roll 22 and configured to supply the single elastic yarn 12 downward in an inclined state.
The circular weaving means 3 is already known, and includes a circular weaving device 31 configured to weave the single elastic yarn 12 passed through the vertical guide hole 231 and a pair of drive tension rolls 32 provided below the circular weaving device 31, configured to tension the woven elastic yarn 13 discharged from the circular weaving device 31 and discharge the tensioned woven elastic yarn 13 downward, and connected to a rotational drive means.
The circular weaving device 31 is vertically disposed below the vertical guide hole 231, and includes a cylinder 311 configured such that the plurality of circular weaving needles 312 configured to form a plurality of woven loops around the upper portion during the weaving of the woven elastic yarn 13 are vertically disposed to be selectively lifted and lowered, a rotation cam 313 provided on the outer circumference of the cylinder 312 to be rotatable by the rotational drive means and configured to sequentially and selectively lifting and lowering the circular weaving needles 312, and a supply guide 314 provided to be rotatable in conjunction with the rotation cam 313 and configured to have a supply guide hole 315 that sequentially supplies the single elastic yarn 12, passed through the vertical guide hole 231, to the catch hooks of the circular weaving needles 312. This circular weaving device 31 is already known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In other words, the circular weaving device 31 produces the woven elastic yarn 13 while forming a plurality of loops during the weaving of the woven elastic yarn 13.
Accordingly, in the woven elastic yarn producing step according to the present invention, the plurality of spandex yarns 11 are superimposed as the single elastic yarn 12 during the process of passing the plurality of spandex yarns 11 through the guide hole 211 of the guide and supply means 2, the guide roll 22 and the vertical guide hole 231, the single elastic yarn 12 is supplied to the circular weaving means 3, the woven elastic yarn 13 is formed through the well-known process of passing the single elastic yarn 12 passed through the vertical guide hole 231 through the supply guide hole 315 of the supply guide 314 of the circular weaving means 3 and supplying the single elastic yarn 12 to the plurality of circular weaving needles 312 that are sequentially and selectively lifted and lowered and then discharged, and the woven elastic yarn 13 is produced through the process of discharging the woven elastic yarn 13 downward via the drive tension rolls 32.
Next, in the button loop array producing step 200, one-side bent portions 14, horizontal portions 15, and opposite-side bent portions 16 are repeatedly formed in a downward direction by laterally moving the woven elastic yarn 13, produced in the woven elastic yarn producing step 100, in a zigzag form while moving it downward, the horizontal portions 15 are connected by a plurality of vertical connection yarns 18 by winding the vertical connection yarns 18 around the circumferences of the horizontal portions 15 whenever the horizontal portion 15 is moved downward, and a plurality of loops 17 are each formed by protruding one side of adjacent two horizontal portions 15 between the two or more horizontal portions 15 in a loop form, thereby producing the button loop array 1.
Furthermore, the button loop array producing step 200 may be performed by a manual operation, another manufacturing means, or the button loop array producing means 4 of the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. The button loop array producing means 4 of the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
The button loop array producing means 4 of the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention functions to repeatedly form one-side bent portions 14, horizontal portions 15, and opposite-side bent portions 16 in a downward direction by laterally moving the woven elastic yarn 13 in a zigzag form while moving it downward, to connect the horizontal portions 15 by a plurality of vertical connection yarns 18 by winding the vertical connection yarns around the circumferences of the horizontal portions 15 whenever the horizontal portions 15 are moved downward, and to form a plurality of loops 17 each by protruding one side of adjacent two horizontal portions 15 between the two or more horizontal portions 15 in a loop form, thereby manufacturing the button loop array 1.
The button loop array producing means 4 that performs the above-described function includes:
a woven elastic yarn supply means 41 provided on an upper side, and configured to laterally supply the woven elastic yarn 13 in a zigzag form through a holder that can be lifted, lowered and moved laterally via a drive means (not shown) such as an actuator;
a vertical connection yarn connecting means 42 configured to connect the bent horizontal portions 15 with a plurality of vertical connection yarns 18 by winding the vertical connection yarns 18 around the circumferences of the horizontal portions 15 whenever each of the horizontal portions 15 is bent and formed through the movement of the woven elastic yarn supply means 41;
a loop catch means 43 loop 17 configured such that one side end of the loop 17 is caught thereby in order to form the loop 17 by extending horizontal portions 15, stacked in two layers on top of two or more horizontal portions 15, to one side through the movement of the woven elastic yarn supply means 41 and configured be selectively moved forward and rearward by a drive means (not shown) such as an actuator or the like; and
an array pulling and discharge means (not shown) provided below the woven elastic yarn supply means 41 and configured to move the produced button loop array 1 with a drive means (not shown) such as a motor or the like while pulling it downward.
The vertical connection yarn connecting means 42 includes a plurality of vertical connection string supply units 421 configured to supply a vertical connection string 10 so that it is rotated from the front of the horizontal portion 15 to the rear of the horizontal portion 15 once whenever each horizontal portion 15 is bent and formed through the movement of the woven elastic yarn supply means 41. The vertical connection yarn connecting means 42 further includes a plurality of front-rear movement winding needles 422 configured to, whenever each of the horizontal portions 15 is bent and formed through the movement of the woven elastic yarn supply means 41, move from a location behind the upper portion of the horizontal portion 15 to a location in front of the horizontal portion 15, allow the vertical connection string 10, rotated and supplied in front of the horizontal portion 15 via each of the vertical connection string supply units 421, to be wound around itself, and to be caught on a catch hook 423, move to a location behind the horizontal portion 15, fasten the horizontal portions 15 by repeatedly winding the vertical connection string 10, pulled backward, around the horizontal portions 15, and stack and connect the horizontal portions 15 while repeatedly forming vertical connection string through loops L on the top of the horizontal portions 15. Furthermore, the vertical connection string supply units 421 and the front-rear movement winding needles 422 are configured to be moved by drive means (not shown) such as actuators or the like.
Accordingly, in the button loop array producing step 200 according to the present invention, one-side bent portions 14, horizontal portions 15, and opposite-side bent portions 16 are repeatedly formed in a downward direction by laterally moving the woven elastic yarn 13 in a zigzag form while moving it downward via the woven elastic yarn supply means 41 and the array pulling and discharge means, the horizontal portions 15 formed in the downward direction are connected by a plurality of vertical connection yarns 18 by winding the plurality of vertical connection yarns 18 around the circumferences of the horizontal portions 15 via the vertical connection yarn connecting means 42 whenever the horizontal portions 15 are moved downward, and a plurality of loops 17 are each formed on one side of adjacent two horizontal portions 15 between the two or more horizontal portions 15 in a loop form through the repeated one side movement of the woven elastic yarn supply means 41 and the repeated front-rear movement of the loop catch means 43, thereby manufacturing the button loop array 1.
Furthermore, as shown in
Furthermore, the thread of the vertical sewing line 19 is most preferably a TC yarn in which polyester and cotton having little elasticity are mixed so that the loops 17 are securely fastened by securely connecting two horizontal portions 15 on one side of which each loop 17 is formed to other horizontal portions 15.
In addition, when the sewing step 300 is performed, it is preferable to use a sewing means (not shown), such as a sewing machine or the like, configured to form the vertical sewing line 19 through the horizontal portions 15 in the button loop array 1, manufactured by the button loop array producing means 4, in the longitudinal direction of the button loop array 1.
Meanwhile, as described above, the guide and supply means 2, the circular weaving means 3, the button loop array producing means 4, and the sewing means are included in the apparatus for manufacturing a button loop array according to the present invention, and an additional description of the apparatus for manufacturing a button loop array according to the present invention will be omitted.
According to the present invention, the single elastic yarn 12 is produced by superimposing the plurality of spandex yarns 11 having excellent elasticity, the woven elastic yarn 13 is produced by weaving the single elastic yarn 12, and then the button loop array 1 is produced using the single woven elastic yarn 13. Accordingly, the present invention is a useful invention that enables the mass production of the button loop array 1 by improving the manufacturing efficiency of the button loop array 1.
The button loop array 1 according to the present invention will be described below.
As shown in
Furthermore, the spandex yarns 11 are each configured such that at least one spandex rubber string is provided therein and one or more stretch yarns having elastic force are woven on the outer circumference of the spandex rubber string.
The plurality of spandex yarns 11 may include three spandex yarns that allow the woven elastic yarn 13 to be thin. In addition, one of the three spandex yarns 11 is preferably formed thicker than the other two spandex yarns 11 so as to improve the elasticity of the woven elastic yarn 13 while reducing the thickness of the woven elastic yarn 13. In other words, it is preferable that one of the three spandex yarns 11 is thickened and the other two are thinned. More preferably, one of the three spandex yarns 11 is two or more times thicker than the other two.
Meanwhile, in the button loop array 1, the horizontal portions 15 may be connected by forming the vertical sewing line 19 in which a thread passes through the horizontal portions 15 in the longitudinal direction of the button loop array 1. Furthermore, the thread of the vertical sewing line 19 is most preferably a TC yarn in which polyester and cotton having little elasticity are mixed so that the loops 17 are securely fastened by securely connecting two horizontal portions 15 on one side of which each loop 17 is formed to other horizontal portions 15.
Furthermore, the button loop array 1 includes a plurality of button loops 20. In other words, the button loop 20 includes one loop 17 of the button loop array 1. A plurality of button loops 20 on one side of each of which a loop 17 is formed are obtained by horizontally cutting the portions between the loops 17. In particular, in the button loop 20 obtained by cutting portions above and below the loop 17, the fastening force of the loop 17 is improved because the plurality of horizontal portions 15 formed by bending the woven elastic yarn 13 are sewn together using the vertical sewing line 19.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the single elastic yarn 12 is produced by superimposing the plurality of spandex yarns 11 having excellent elasticity, the woven elastic yarn 13 is produced by weaving the single elastic yarn 12, and then the button loop array 1 is produced using the single woven elastic yarn 13. Accordingly, when the loop 17 of the button loop 20 is stretched by pulling it in the process of inserting a button into the button loop 20 after the button loop 20 has been fastened to an end of a garment, the spandex rubber string having a different color such as white and provided inside the spandex yarns 11 is prevented from being exposed to the outside because the thin spandex yarns 11 constituting the woven elastic yarn 13 are woven and bent. As a result, the present invention is a useful invention that may provide the button loop 20 without any change in color on the outside thereof when the loop 17 is stretched.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the plurality of multilayered horizontal portions 15 of the button loop 20 obtained by cutting portions above and below the loop are sewn together using the vertical sewing line 19. Accordingly, the loop 17 is securely fastened. As a result, the present invention is a useful invention that may provide the button loop 20 having excellent durability which may prevent the loop 17 from excessively protruding to the outside from an end of a garment when the loop 17 is pulled after the button loop 20 has been attached to the end of the garment.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the single elastic yarn 12 having strong elastic force is produced by superimposing the plurality of spandex yarns 11 having excellent elasticity, the woven elastic yarn 13 having strong elastic force is produced by weaving the single elastic yarn 12, and then the button loop array 1 is produced using the single woven elastic yarn 13. Accordingly, even when the loop 17 is formed in minimum size, a button may be inserted into the loop 17 because the elastic force of the loop 17 is improved. As a result, the present invention is a useful invention that may provide not only the button loop 20 having a simple appearance in which the size of the loop 17 into which a button is inserted is minimum but also the button loop 20 which prevents a button from being removed therefrom.
Moreover, according to the present invention, one of the three spandex yarns 11 constituting the single elastic yarn 12 used to produce the woven elastic yarn 13 is formed thicker than the other two in order to improve the elastic force of the woven elastic yarn while reducing the thickness of the woven elastic yarn. Accordingly, the woven elastic yarn has sufficient elastic force, and the thickness of the woven elastic yarn is reduced. As a result, the present invention is a useful invention that may provide the button loop 20 having a simple appearance which has the loop 17 having sufficient elastic force and thin thickness.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the single elastic yarn is produced by superimposing the plurality of spandex yarns having excellent elasticity, the woven elastic yarn is produced by weaving the single elastic yarn, and then the button loop array 1 is produced using the single woven elastic yarn, thereby providing the advantage of enabling the mass production of the button loop array by improving the manufacturing efficiency of the button loop array.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the single elastic yarn having strong elastic force is produced by superimposing the plurality of spandex yarns having excellent elasticity, the woven elastic yarn having strong elastic force is produced by weaving the single elastic yarn, and then the button loop array is produced using the single woven elastic yarn, thus the elastic force of the loop is improved, so that a button may be inserted into the loop even when the loop is formed in a minimum size, thereby providing the advantage of providing not only the button loop having a simple appearance in which the size of the loop into which a button is inserted is minimum but also the button loop which prevents a button from being removed therefrom.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the thin spandex yarns constituting the woven elastic yarn are woven and bent, and the spandex rubber string having a different color such as white and provided inside the spandex yarns is prevented from being exposed to the outside even when the loop of the button loop is stretched by pulling it in the process of inserting a button into the button loop after the button loop has been fastened to an end of a garment, thereby providing the advantage of providing the button loop without any change in color on the outside thereof when the loop is stretched.
Moreover, according to the present invention, the plurality of multilayered horizontal portions of the button loop are sewn together using the vertical sewing line, and thus the loop is securely fastened, thereby providing the advantage of providing the button loop having excellent durability which may prevent the loop from excessively protruding to the outside from an end of a garment when the loop is pulled after the button loop has been attached to the end of the garment.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention may include various modifications, alterations, and equivalents. It will be apparent that the present invention includes appropriate modifications of the embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention that is defined by the attached patent claims.
Meanwhile, although the specific embodiments have been described in the detailed description of the present invention, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2019-0081880 | Jul 2019 | KR | national |
