Patent Application
20230414023
The present invention relates to the general field of clothing and fabrics, and specifically to systems for enhancing the useful lifetime of clothing and fabrics.
It is no secret that clothing is among an individual or family's greater expenses. The typical US household currently spends about $120 per month on clothing, which works out to over $1,400 per year. A pair of simple denim jeans typically cost over $50 and up to $100 or more. Shirts or blouses can also easily cost $100 or more.
The reason that clothing is often discarded isn't that the clothing is torn or worn out, but because children regularly outgrow their clothing. With the rapid growth of children, it is common for parents to have to buy clothing for their children, only for the children to outgrow this clothing. As children grow taller, the legs and sleeves can become too short and sometimes the torso as well. This tends to be particularly true of the sleeves and pant legs—within a year; and often within six months. It is common for parents to but their children new clothes, at high cost, just before the school year begins in fall, only to have their children's clothes not even last through school year. The parents are forced to give away or discard this clothing that is otherwise in good condition and pay to replace it.
Further, clothing can ofteh shrink, affecting both adults and children. As clothing is repeatedly washed and dried, this process can often result in the shrinkage of clothing. This is particularly true of clothing that is washed in hot water, or dried with heated drying. As clothing shrinks, it often does so primarily in the sleeves or legs, making a wearer's arms and legs now too long to fit. The wearer then often has to give away or discard the clothing, and money has to be spent to replace otherwise good clothing.
In addition, there are a number of wearers with sleeves and legs that are longer—typically by an inch or two, but can be even longer—than within the range of standard sizes. For example, wearers often are an inch or two longer in the legs than standard waist widths for pants, or have arms that are an inch or two longer. Longer arms can be particularly troublesome because shirts and blouses, such as business shirts, often come in a set of standardized sizes, wherein the sleeve length is related to the overall size of the shirt. This can often leave a shirt or blouse wearer with longer arms with a choice to either accept too-short sleeves or buy a shirt or blouse that is too long.
Currently, devices capable of stretching fabric, generally and on an industrial scale, are known in the art. However, such devices tend to be large, bulky and not designed, or able to, stretch individual articles of clothing. There are also devices known in the art for increasing hat bands or stretching pant waists. However, these are designed to increase openings rather than enhancing length, and not designed for the clothing types, and do not address the issues, herein.
Accordingly, many clothing wearers have a thus-far unmet need to extend the life of their own and their children's clothes. Because much shrinkage or outgrowing occurs in the sleeves and legs, as pant legs and sleeves shrink, or arms and legs grow, the ability to ameliorate this could greatly increase the useful life of clothing.
A comprehensive system for spreading fabric and lengthening the life of clothes is shown and described herein.
A fabric stretching system is disclosed. The system is generally comprised of a set of clamps, member holding mechanisms, and at least a pair of stretching spreaders.
The clamp set is comprised of at least one set of clamps and in one embodiment, a pair of clamps. An upper clamp is comprised of an upper top clamp member and an upper bottom clamp member. The lower clamp is comprised of a lower top clamp member and lower bottom clamp member. Each respective sets of clamp members are reversibly secured to each other by at least one member holding mechanism.
In some embodiments, each respective pair of clamp members are secured by at least a single member holding mechanism.
The at least a pair of stretching spreaders is comprised of a pair of fabric stretching spreaders. The fabric spreaders are each comprised, generally, of a rod and a spreader activation mechanism connected to, and working with, the rod.
The spreaders are secured at an upper end by upper member slots within at least one member set. In an embodiment, a pair of slots are placed within the upper top member. A pair of spreader securing mechanisms are placed, respectively at the upper end of each of the rods. The spreader securing mechanisms can be of any configuration or apparatus suitable for securing the spreaders. For example, these can include hook-shaped protrusions perpendicular from the rods, a spring device, or a member situated perpendicular from the rod. In some embodiments, at least one of the lower clamp members are provided with at least a pair of rod slots capable fitting one end of the respective rods into them.
Each of the at least pair of spreaders are capable of pulling an object along a tightening rod to push or pull the object along each rod to either stretch it out, or push it together. The spreader is operated by at least one spreader activation mechanism, which can be clamp or spreader activation apparatus as known and understood in the art.
The spreader activation mechanism can be comprised of any apparatus suitable for activating a spreading motion along the respective rods. These can include a handle and trigger and ratcheting mechanism, as in one embodiment, or other mechanisms in the art capable of performing this task.
The clamp set, in a preferred embodiment, is comprised of at least a set of upper clamp members and a set of lower clamp members. In a preferred embodiment, the clamp set is comprised of a set of upper clamp members comprised of an upper top clamp member and upper bottom clamp member; and a set of lower members comprised of a lower top clamp member and lower bottom clamp member. The respective pair of upper pair of clamp members and lower clamp members are each capable of securing an article of fabric by pressing the article between each respective pair of members of the clamp set.
For clarity, the upper and lower respective pairs of members are respectively attached to each other and located on opposite sides to each other. The top and bottom member pairs are located with each top clamp member directly above the respective lower clamp member.
The spreaders in a preferred embodiment are shown with rods spreader activation mechanisms, in this embodiment in the form of a pair of tightening trigger mechanisms as known and understood within the clamping and spreader art, and spreader upper securing mechanisms. In a preferred embodiment, the upper securing mechanisms are a pair of respective screws secured by nuts, but can be comprised of any apparatus known in the art and capable of performing this task.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one end of each respective rods of the stretching spreaders are secured to at least one set of clamp members. In this embodiment, the spreader upper securing mechanism is provided at or near the end of each respective rod, and placed through each respective rod, in a perpendicular configuration relative to the rods.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one top clamp member and bottom clamp member are secured together on one end by a mechanism, attached to one of both members for flexibly and reversibly securing the two clamp members together. In an embodiment, the top clamp merr ber and bottom clamp member are secured to each other by a hinge on one side of the members. A bottom member can be laid flat and the top member swung, using the hinge, until the two members are together.
In a preferred embodiment, the reversible clamp member securing mechanism is attached to both members. The members are placed together, then pressed together by at least one Member holding mechanism. The member holding mechanism provided to reversibly press the top and bottom clamp members to each other. In a preferred embodiment, a single member holding mechanism is placed opposite the side of exact hinge.
The member holding mechanisms can be comprised of any suitable apparatus in the art capable of conveniently securing and releasing the clamp members to each other, including, e.g., a screw and wing nut arrangement, a screw with turnable handle, or hydraulic or electrical system, or a swing bolt arrangement. By this method, the clamp members are squeezed closer to each other via the member holding mechanism.
Once the clamps and by extension, the article of clothing, are secured, the spreader activation mechanism of each spreader mechanism is activated, thereby placing an expansive force on the article of clothing.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the expression of these individual embodiments is for illustrative purposes and should not be seen as a limitation upon the scope of the invention. It is to be further understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
Shown and described herein is a comprehensive and fabric stretching system, as well as a method of manufacture and assembly and method of use. The system 10 herein provides a way for a single person to easily stretch pieces of specific fabric, such as shirts and pants.
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The clamp set 12 is comprised of at least one set of clamps and in this embodiment, a pair of clamps. An upper clamp is comprised of an upper top clamp member 14 and an upper bottom clamp member 16. The lower clamp is comprised of a lower top clamp member 18 and lower bottom clamp member 20. As shown in the figure, each of these respective sets of clamp members are reversibly secured to each other by at least one member holding mechanism 22. Each clamp member 14, 16 and 18, 20 is comprised of any suitable material in the art, including wood, a metal, alloy, or a plastic or resin.
Each respective member can be of any suitable size for the task, and in this embodiment, each is approximately 14″ long by 2″ wide by 1-½″ thick/
In this embodiment, each respective pair 14-16, 18-20, are secured by at least a single member holding mechanism 22, 22′. The member holding mechanism 22 can be comprised of any means known in the art for reversibly tightening, including ratchets, levers, a hydraulic or electrical system, a screw and easily turnable nut such as a wing nut, or a screw with turnable handle. In this embodiment, screws 25, 25′ with wing nuts 26, 26 are shown.
The at least a pair of stretching spreaders is comprised of a pair of fabric stretching spreaders 30-30′. The fabric spreaders 30, 30′ are each comprised, generally, of a rod 32, 32′ and a spreader activation mechanism 34,34′ connected to, and working with, the rod 32, 32′. The spreaders 32, 32′ can be of any suitable size, and the spreader components can be made of any known suitable materials in the art, including a plastic or resin, metal, or a combination of these. The rods 32, 32′ are comprised of metal rods approximately ½″ wide, by 3/16″, by 18″ long.
The spreaders 30, 30′ are secured at an upper end by upper member slots 24, 24′ within at least one member set 14, 16. In this embodiment, a pair of slots 24, 24′ are placed within the upper top member 14. A pair of spreader securing mechanisms 36, 36′ are placed, respectively at the upper end of each of the rods 32, 32′. The spreader securing mechanisms 36, 36′ can be of any configuration or apparatus suitable for securing the spreaders 30, 30′. For example, these can include hook-shaped protrusions perpendicular from the rods 32, 32′, a spring device, or a member situated perpendicular from the rod. In this embodiment, the spreader securing device 36, 36′ are each a member perpendicular to the rods 32, 32′. The holding mechanism slots 24, 24′ are shaped to accommodate and secure an end of the rods 32, 32′ and spreader securing device 36, 36′.
In some embodiments, at least one of the lower clamp members 18-20 are provided with at least a pair of rod slots 33, 33′ capable fitting one end of the respective rods 32, 32′ into them.
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Each of the at least pair of spreaders 30, 30′ are spreaders as known in the art, and capable of puling an object along a tightening rod 32, 32′, to push or pull the object along each rod 32, 32′ to either stretch it out, or push it together. The spreader is operated by at least one spreader activation mechanism 34, 34′, which can be clamp or spreader activation apparatus as known and understood in the art. These spreaders are similar to wood clamping and spreading mechanisms known in the art.
The spreader activation mechanism 34, 34′ can be comprised of any apparatus suitable for activating a spreading motion along the respective rods 32, 32′. These can include a handle and trigger and ratcheting mechanism, as in this embodiment, or other mechanisms in the art capable of performing this task. These can also include, e.g. turnable handles, or other ratcheting arrangement, a push button or switch or signal apparatus, attached to a motor or hydraulic or electric motor and system.
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For clarity, the upper and lower respective pairs of members 14-16 and 18-20 are respectively attached to each other and located on opposite sides to each other. The top and bottom member pairs (14 and 16, and 18 and 20) are located with each top clamp member directly above the respective lower damp member.
The spreaders 30, 30′ in this embodiment are shown with rods 32, 32′, spreader activation mechanisms 34, 34′ in this embodiment in the form of a pair of tightening trigger mechanisms known as known and understood within the clamping and spreader art, and spreader upper securing mechanisms 36, 36′. In this embodiment, the upper securing mechanisms 36, 36′ are a pair of respective screws secured by nuts, but can be comprised of any apparatus known in the art and capable of performing this task, such as attached screws, attached rods, or rods that are part of the spreader rods 32, 32′ as a one-piece construction.
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A pair of respective clamp member slots or apertures 24, 24′ (one of which is shown in detail in
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The bottom member 16 can be laid flat and the upper top member 14 swung, using the hinge, until the two members are together. In this figure, the reversible clamp member securing mechanism 42 is shown in a pre-attached configuration.
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The member holding mechanisms 22 can be comprised of any suitable apparatus in the art capable of conveniently securing and releasing the clamp members 14, 16 to each other, including a screw and wing nut arrangement, a screw with turnable handle, or hydraulic or electrical system. The member securing system in this embodiment is a screw 25 and wing nut arrangement. These are placed within appropriate securing member apertures 40, 40′. The screw 25, is set through both clamp members 14, 16 within the member apertures 40, 40′. The screw 25 protrudes from the top member 14 enough for a wing nut 26 to be placed on it and twisted. By this method, the clamp members are squeezed closer to each other via the turning of the wing nut.
At least one member holding mechanism is similarly provided for the lower member set 18, 20.
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Respective rod slots 33, 33′ are provided within one or more of the lower members 18, 20 (in this embodiment, the lower bottom clamp member 20). The lowerend of each rod 30, 30′ is placed and accommodated with each respective rod slot 33, 33′.
The upper and lower ends of the article of clothing 44 to be stretched are placed between the respective upper and lower clamps 13, 17. As a few examples; if the sleeve of a shirt is to be stretched, opposite ends of the sleeves are placed between the clamp member pairs 14, 16 and 18, 20. The same can be done with a pant leg. If the torso of a shirt is to be stretched, the whole shirt is placed within the clamp member pairs 14, 16 and 18, 20. When the article of clothing 44 is placed, the clamp member pairs 14, 16 and 18, 20. are dosed together. As this happens, any member holding mechanisms, 22, 22′ are aligned between each pair of members 14, 16 and 18, 20 and secured,
In this embodiment, each pair of members 14, 16 and 18, 20 has a damp securing mechanism 42, 42′ (A hinge in this embodiment) and a single member holding mechanism 22. Alternatively, each pair of members 14, 16 and 18, 20 can have (as shown in
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With everything tightened and secured, a user then activates the respective Spreader activation mechanisms 34, 34′ (handles and trigger in this embodiment). As the triggers 34, 34′are squeezed, the spreaders 30, 30′ move the article of clothing further and further apart. In this embodiment, the fabric is spread by way of mechanical spreading and contracting with the ratcheting advancing handles and triggers 34, 34′. For a few common examples, e.g., long sleeve shirt or blouse sleeves, shirt or blouse torso, and pants legs are common articles of clothing 44 that can be improved for use. The lower end of the article 44 is held in place as the upper end is stretched by the action of the spreaders 30, 30′. In this embodiment, the spreader triggers 34, 34′ is operated by a trigger and ratcheting action. Over time, which may be hours or days, depending upon the article of clothing 44, the triggers 34, 34′ can be activated over and over again, further stretching the article 44 to desired length.
In one example, a shirt sleeve is improved. A user needs a shirt with a longer sleeve. The shirt 44 is placed within the clamps 13, 17, at approximately the armpit at one end, and the end of the sleeve at the other. The member holding mechanisms 22, 22′ are tightened until the shirt 44 is firmly in place The spreader handle triggers 34, 34′ are activated, creating a pulling action between the appropriate points of the shirt 44. The spreader handle triggers 34, 34′ can be tightened again and again, as needed to stretch the sleeve of the shirt 44 to desired length The shirt sleeve can be left in the device 10 overnight if needed. A normal time for sufficient stretching is typically about 12 hours, but can be 24 hours, or for more length, may be about 48 hours. Pressure between the two handles 34, 34′ should be about equal but does not have to be exact.
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When the article 44 has been stretched to suitable length, the spreaders 30, 30′ and the member holder mechanisms 22, 22′ are loosened to make the top members 14, 18 removeable. Any parts of the member holder mechanisms 22, 22′, such as, e.g., wing nuts 26, 26′ or turnable handles 27, 27′ that need to be removed are. Any Reversible clamp member securing mechanisms 42, 42′ such as hinges are swung or otherwise activated. By these means, the upper members 14, 18 are loosened and the article of clothing 44 can then be removed from between the pairs of members 14, 16 and 18, 20.
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As arms and legs grow, the ability to stretch clothing can help clothing keep up with this growth, so that clothing does not need to be discarded. With this invention, struggles to find off the shelf clothing that fits, or to retain children's clothes longer, can be satisfied. Children's clothing life can extend through en entire school year by not having to buy school clothing bought in the fall only to have to replace it in the spring. Further, clothing life can be extended generally, This ability to preserve clothing can expand the clothing that can be bought, and save users, particularly parents, hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. This also provides a user an increased variety of clothing they can buy, removing, for example, shirts that are limited by having too short sleeves. In addition, longer sleeves can provide more room for a user's elbows within a shirt.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the expression of these individual embodiments is for illustrative purposes and should not be seen as a limitation upon the scope of the invention. It is to be further understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
This non-provisional application claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/473,072 entitled “MECHANICAL FABRIC SPREADER/LENGTHENER/STRETCHER,” filed on Apr. 29, 2022. The subject matter of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63473072 | Apr 2022 | US |
