Method and product of enhanced durability wrinkle resistant and/or pucker free garments

Abstract

Wrinkle resistant garments produced by the cross-linking of cellulose and / or pucker free garments produced by adding a fuse tape into an edge seam are treated with chemicals such as sodium tetraborate and / or similar compounds having a pH of about 9-10 or higher in a process that can significantly improve the garment's durability. The selected chemical is applied to areas of the garments which are subject to excessive abrasion during daily wear and laundering.

Description

RELATED PATENTS[0001] This application relates to prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,568,779 entitled "Pucker Free Garment Seam and Method of Manufacture;" 5,590,615 entitled "Pucker Free Garment Seam and Method of Manufacture;" 5,713,292 entitled "Pucker Free Pocket Garment Seam and Method for Production;" 5,775,394 entitled "Pucker Free Sleeve Placket Garment Seam and Method for Production;" 5,782,191 entitled "Pucker Free Right Front Hem Garment Seam and Method for Production;" 5,950,554 entitled "Pucker Free Yoke-To-Front and Yoke-To-Back Garment Seam and Method for Production;" 6,070,542 entitled "Pucker Free Collar Seam and Method of Manufacture;" and 6,079,343 entitled "Pucker Free Garment Side Seam and Method for Production;" all of common assignment with the subject application.[0002] This invention relates to wrinkle resistant and / or pucker free garments. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and garment of enhanced durability that maintains previously achieved advance...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] It is a general object of the invention to provide a novel process and garment that will exhibit all of the advantageous characteristics of a wrinkle resistant and / or pucker free technology while concomitantly enhancing the wear life of the garment.

[0012] It is a related object of the invention to provide a method and garment that exhibits wrinkle resistant characteristics and / or pucker free appearance but does not suffer from a decrease in abrasion or wear resistance along any sharp edge of the garment.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a wrinkle resistant and / or pucker free garment with increased durability of the fabric along critical wear seams, such as for example, an outer collar seam, an outer cuff seam and / or a front platen seam of a shirt. It is a related object of the invention to provide a novel wear enhancement method for outer garments and for pants, where fraying and wear of a bottom edge of the pant cuff, center fly and / or pocket edges will be obviated.

[0014] Another object of the invention is a method and garment of improved durability while simultaneously maintaining the wrinkle resistant and / or pucker free characteristics of the garment.

Problems solved by technology

This shrinkage differential, which is exacerbated with repeated washings, creates waviness or pucker along garment seams.

The foregoing wrinkle resistant and pucker free processes, however, may have adverse effects on garment wear.

As an example, wrinkle resistant finishing can reduce the tensile strength, tear strength and abrasion resistance of fabric.

In the instance of wrinkle resistant pants, excessive abrasion at certain areas can wear the pants out prematurely.

In addition, the edge of the fly (zipper of pants) front and back mouths of pants pockets and in essence all edges of outerwear that are subject to contact and thus wear if a fabric is brittle.

In these edge regions, fiber breakage can occur and frays can form before significant wear is detected in other regions of the garment.

As a result, the garment's useful life span may be reduced even though the fabric panels are completely serviceable.

The foregoing noted limitations regarding durability point out that while significant advances have been achieved in wrinkle resistant and / or pucker free wash-n-wear garments in the past, ever with 100% natural fiber garments, room for worthwhile improvement exists.

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