Shrinkproof elastic tape and a method of making same

Abstract

An elastic tape is disclosed as including a warp yarn and a weft yarn, in which the warp yarn includes an elastomeric core yarn wound around by a thermo-fusible yarn which is adapted to melt in heat and bonded with the adjacent yarn(s). There is also disclosed a method of forming an elastic tape, including the steps of (a) winding a thermo-fusible yarn around an elastomeric core yarn to form a first yarn; (b) weaving or knitting the first yarn and at least a weft yarn integrally with one another, with the first yarn as a warp yarn; and (c) heat treating the yarns to melt the thermo-fusible yarn to integrally bond with the adjacent yarn(s).

Description

[0001] This invention involves an elastic tape, which may be woven or knitted, and in particular such a tape having shrinkproof characteristics with no runback, fraying or raveling, and a method of making such a tape. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Elastic are extensively used in the textile industry and other aspects of daily life, and in particular in the garment industry. Elastic tape is an indispensable accessory for the underwear industry. Existing elastic tapes are generally composed of weft and warp yarns, in which part of the yarns are the core yarns. Elastomeric yarns are used for the core, whereas the sheath may consist of other textile fibres, such as nylon, polyester or cotton yarns. When such an elastic tape is repeatedly stretched during use, the elastic core yarns are prone to runback, and the elastomeric yarn ends in the tape are prone to protrude from the tape edge or from a broken point. For example, in the case of an elastic tape used at the top of briefs, it ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an elastic tape with minimum shrinkage, fraying or raveling, and a method of making same, in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public and trade.

[0006] Elastic tapes according to the present invention are more advantageous than existing elastic tapes in that with the use of thermo-fusible yarns as the covering material, under heat treatment, the thermo-fusible yarns will melt and stick on other weft and warp yarns, thus producing a bonding effect. When returning to normal room temperature, the thermo-fusible yarn has been integrated with the surrounding yarns through fusing and bonding. Despite numerous stretches, no runback will happen. This invention has solved such problems as the runback or protrusion of the core yarns, meanwhile reinforcing the other materials in the tape. As a result, the elastic tape is not prone to deformation and shrinkage is reduced. The intact appearance of the apparel including the tape is assured and the service life of the clothing is extended. Such a difficult problem which perplexes the garment industry, especially the underwear industry, for a long time has thus at last been solved.

Problems solved by technology

Such a difficult problem which perplexes the garment industry, especially the underwear industry, for a long time has thus at last been solved.

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