A flexible steel ring and a manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of underwear, and specifically discloses a flexible steel ring and a method for manufacturing the same. The flexible steel ring includes a stainless steel wire rope twisted from a plurality of steel wires, achieving a combination of high modulus rigidity and low modulus flexibility, ensuring that the bra containing the flexible steel ring is comfortable to wear, has a good shaping effect, and is safe to use. The further optimized number of steel wires, diameter restrictions, and the application of end sleeves and coatings improve the flexibility, comfort, and safety of the steel ring. In addition, the present invention also provides a bra containing the flexible steel ring and a method for manufacturing the same. Through a precise shaping process, high-precision bending and shaping of the steel ring is achieved, the ability of the steel ring to be rolled up without deformation is enhanced, and the service life is significantly extended. The present invention takes into account both the support and comfort of the bra steel ring, has strong safety, is durable, is not easily deformed, and has a high application and promotion value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of underwear, and more specifically, to a flexible underwire and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the improvement of material living standards, modern women who love beauty have higher and higher requirements for bras in order to prevent breast sagging, ensure the fullness of the breasts, or show the perfect breast shape. Existing bras, corsets and other female underwear are mainly made of fabrics. The characteristics of the fabrics make them comfortable to wear. In order to better improve the support of the breasts by the underwear, an arc-shaped steel ring is usually provided at the bottom edge of the cup pad of the underwear. There is an irreconcilable contradiction in the rigidity (hardness and softness) of the arc-shaped steel ring: if a steel ring with a larger rigidity is used, although it has a higher support force and a better shaping effect, its softness is poor. When the underwear is worn, the steel ring will form a steel ring indentation around the breast, reducing the user's comfort; if a steel ring with a smaller rigidity is used, although the steel ring is softer and more comfortable to wear, after long-term use, the steel ring is prone to deformation, distortion and other phenomena, which makes the underwear not close to the body and reduces the wearing comfort. Especially during the washing process, the steel ring is very easy to deform. In the prior art, curved steel rings often use a single steel ring structure, and strive to achieve a balance between support and softness through various variable cross-section designs, but the effect is different. In addition, although the existing curved steel rings are covered with cloth tubes or flannel, the two ends of the steel ring are extremely squeezed when worn, which can easily pierce the cloth tubes or flannel and injure the user, making it unsafe to use. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the deficiencies of the above-mentioned prior arts and provide a flexible steel ring and a method for manufacturing the same, so as to solve the problem of balancing the support and softness of the steel ring of a bra and the problem of puncturing the bra, so as to achieve the effects of comfortable wearing, good shaping, safe use and not easy to deform.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is to provide a flexible steel ring, including an arc-shaped stainless steel wire rope, which is twisted from multiple steel wires; first, n steel wires are twisted into one steel wire, and then m steel wires are twisted into the stainless steel wire rope.

[0005] The flexible steel ring provided by this solution has achieved a major breakthrough in the performance of steel ring materials. By twisting steel wire into stainless steel wire rope, the flexible steel ring has both high modulus rigidity and low modulus flexibility, taking into account the support and comfort needs of the bra. Compared with traditional steel rings, flexible steel rings are flexible and not easy to break. The angle can be adjusted at will according to needs, adapting to various breast shapes without feeling restrained. More importantly, the unique structural design of the flexible steel ring allows 360-degree free winding without deformation, ensuring the durability of the product.

[0006] Furthermore, m∈[5,9], n∈[5,9].

[0007] Furthermore, the diameter of the steel wire is 0.01-0.15 mm, and the diameter of the stainless steel wire rope is 1.0-2.5 mm.

[0008] The above restrictions on the number of steel wires, the diameter of the steel wires and the diameter of the stainless steel wire rope are all conducive to the flexible steel ring to achieve a suitable modulus, taking into account the characteristics of support strength and flexibility and comfort. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, 7×7 304 stainless steel wires are twisted into a stainless steel wire rope with a diameter of 1.8 mm.

[0009] Furthermore, the flexible steel ring further comprises end sleeves, which are coated on both ends of the stainless steel wire rope. The end sleeves can provide protection to prevent the two ends of the flexible steel ring from piercing the bra, thereby ensuring safety in use.

[0010] Furthermore, the flexible steel ring further comprises a coating layer, and the coating layer is coated on the surface of the stainless steel wire rope. The coating layer not only provides further safety protection, but also enhances the flexibility and comfort of the flexible steel ring.

[0011] Furthermore, the end sleeve and / or coating layer is made of one or more of silicone, heat shrink material, webbing, PU injection molding, PET or nylon powder coating. The silicone outer layer can increase flexibility and comfort; the heat shrink coating can fit tightly with the stainless steel wire rope to enhance the protective effect; the webbing wrapped stainless steel wire rope is fashionable and beautiful, and enhances the grip; the PU injection molding stainless steel wire rope has a unique touch, is soft like cotton when lightly pressed, and instantly hardens and protects against impact, combining safety and comfort; the PET / nylon powder coated stainless steel wire rope has the advantages of wear resistance and tear resistance, and the coating design can improve the feel and extend the service life.

[0012] Furthermore, the central angle of the arc of the stainless steel wire rope is less than 180°, and the tangent angle between the two end points is 40° to 50°. The central angle of the arc is less than 180°, that is, both ends of the arc are open outward.

[0013] Furthermore, the distance between the two end points of the stainless steel wire rope is 110-140 mm.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a bra comprising the flexible underwire.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the flexible steel ring, comprising the following steps:

[0016] S1. Take a certain length of stainless steel wire rope, design the target arc shape after forming, and determine the target curvature;

[0017] S2, placing the stainless steel wire rope on a curved surface for bending and shaping, wherein the curvature of the curved surface is greater than the target curvature;

[0018] S3. After shaping, the stainless steel wire rope is released and shaped, and the curvature becomes smaller to reach the target curvature.

[0019] Due to the nature of the stainless steel wire rope rebounding after bending, the bending angle during shaping, that is, the curvature of the curved surface, should be greater than the target curvature; after shaping is completed, it is taken out and the stainless steel wire rope rebounds to achieve the target curvature.

[0020] Furthermore, the central angle of the arc of the curved surface is greater than 180°, and the included angle of the tangents of the two end points of the curved surface is 60° to 80°. The central angle of the arc is greater than 180°, that is, the openings at both ends of the arc are inward.

[0021] Furthermore, the shaping method in step S2 is to heat the stainless steel wire rope and then cool it to shape it. By heating and tempering, the shaped stainless steel wire rope can be freely rolled up 360 degrees without deformation.

[0022] Furthermore, the heating temperature is 400-500° C. and the heating time is 20-40 minutes. Appropriate temperature and time are conducive to enhancing the shaping effect.

[0023] Furthermore, after heating, an oxide layer is formed on the surface of the stainless steel wire rope, which protects the surface of the stainless steel wire rope from corrosion and oxidation, and can significantly extend its service life.

[0024] Furthermore, in step S2, a plurality of stainless steel wire ropes are stacked on a curved surface for bending and shaping, which is convenient for batch shaping and improves the efficiency of shaping processing.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shaping die for manufacturing the flexible steel ring, comprising:

[0026] Base plate;

[0027] A shaping plate is erected and fixed on the bottom plate, and has an arc-shaped cross section. The shaping plate includes a first edge, an arc-shaped portion, and a second edge. The first edge is rolled inward to form a first positioning groove, and the second edge is provided with a second positioning groove; and

[0028] The arc-shaped pressing plate is fitted with the arc-shaped portion of the shaping plate, and the two ends are respectively placed in the first positioning groove and the second positioning groove;

[0029] The bottom plate, the shaping plate and the arc-shaped pressing plate together form a positioning space, and the positioning space has a certain height.

[0030] During the manufacturing process, the stainless steel wire rope is placed in the positioning space of the above-mentioned shaping mold, so that it is bent and pressed against the arc portion of the shaping plate, and then pressed by the arc-shaped pressing plate, and then heated for a certain period of time and cooled to shape. The shaped stainless steel wire rope allows 360-degree free winding without deformation and is durable. The positioning space has a certain height, which is convenient for stacking multiple stainless steel wire ropes on the curved surface for batch heating and shaping, thereby improving the efficiency of the shaping process.

[0031] Furthermore, the second edge is rolled inward to form a second positioning groove.

[0032] Furthermore, the shaping mold further comprises an outer folding portion and an L-shaped plate, the outer folding portion is connected to the second edge and is bent outward, the L-shaped plate is erected on the bottom plate, and has an L-shaped cross section, the first wing of the L-shaped plate is attached to the outer folding portion of the shaping plate and connected via a fixing member, and the second wing of the L-shaped plate and the arc-shaped portion of the shaping plate form a second positioning groove. The above structure makes the L-shaped plate detachable, and when in use, the distance between the L-shaped plate and the shaping plate is adjusted to facilitate the placement and removal of the stainless steel wire rope into and out of the shaping mold, as well as to adjust the degree to which the stainless steel wire rope is compressed.

[0033] Furthermore, the shaping mold further comprises a pressing block or a second pressing plate, the pressing block or the second pressing plate is provided with a through hole, the upper bottom surface of the shaping plate is provided with a screw hole corresponding to the position of the through hole, and the pressing block or the second pressing plate is connected to the shaping plate by screws. The function of the pressing block or the second pressing plate is to fix the arc-shaped pressing plate in the positioning space together with the shaping plate, so that the arc-shaped pressing plate can further compress the stainless steel wire rope, thereby completing the heating shaping in the mold.

[0034] Furthermore, the center angle of the arc of the cross section of the positioning space is greater than 180°, and the tangent angle of the two end points of the shaping plate is 60° to 80°. The center angle of the arc is greater than 180°, that is, the openings at both ends of the arc are retracted. Due to the property of the stainless steel wire rope to rebound after bending, the bending angle during shaping, that is, the curvature of the arc portion of the shaping plate, should be greater than the target curvature; after shaping is completed, it is taken out and the stainless steel wire rope rebounds to achieve the target curvature.

[0035] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0036] The flexible steel ring and the manufacturing method thereof provided by the present invention achieve a combination of high modulus rigidity and low modulus flexibility by adopting a stainless steel wire rope formed by twisting a plurality of steel wires, thereby ensuring that the bra comprising the flexible steel ring is comfortable to wear, has a good shaping effect and is safe to use. The further optimized number of steel wires, diameter restrictions, and the application of end sleeves and coatings improve the flexibility, comfort and safety of the steel ring. In addition, the present invention also provides a bra comprising the flexible steel ring and the manufacturing method thereof, which achieves high-precision bending and shaping of the steel ring through a precise shaping process, enhances the ability of the steel ring to be rolled up without deformation, and significantly extends the service life. The present invention takes into account both the support and comfort of the bra steel ring, has strong safety, is durable, is not easy to deform, and has a high application and promotion value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the flexible steel ring provided in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a stainless steel wire rope and its enlarged partial view.

[0039] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the angles of the stainless steel wire rope after shaping.

[0040] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the angles at which stainless steel wire rope is bent and shaped on a curved surface.

[0041] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the molding die provided in Example 2.

[0042] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the shaping mold provided in Example 3.

[0043] Figure 7 This is a top view of the molding die provided in Example 3.

[0044] Reference numerals: stainless steel wire rope 100, steel wire 110, end sleeve 200, coating layer 300. Bottom plate 400, bottom hole 410, shaping plate 500, first edge 510, arc portion 520, screw hole 521, second edge 530, outer folding portion 540, L-shaped plate 550, first wing 551, second wing 552, arc-shaped pressing plate 600, second pressing plate 700. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The drawings of the present invention are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In order to better illustrate the following embodiments, some parts of the drawings may be omitted, enlarged or reduced, and do not represent the size of the actual product; it is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions in the drawings may be omitted.

[0046] Example 1

[0047] This embodiment provides a bra, including a flexible steel ring.

[0048] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the flexible steel ring includes:

[0049] The stainless steel wire rope 100 is arc-shaped and is formed by twisting a plurality of steel wires 110;

[0050] End sleeves 200, covering both ends of the stainless steel wire rope 100; and

[0051] The coating layer 300 is coated on the surface of the stainless steel wire rope 100 .

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, the stainless steel wire rope 100 is first twisted into a steel wire 110 by twisting multiple steel wires 110, and then twisted into the stainless steel wire rope 100 by twisting multiple steel wires 110. The diameter of the steel wire 110 is 0.01-0.15 mm, and the diameter of the stainless steel wire rope 100 is 1.0-2.5 mm. In this embodiment, 7×7 304 stainless steel wires 110 are twisted into a stainless steel wire rope 100 with a diameter of 1.8 mm. The above restrictions on the type of steel wire, the number of steel wires, the diameter of the steel wire and the diameter of the stainless steel wire rope 100 are all conducive to the flexible steel ring to achieve a suitable modulus, taking into account the characteristics of support strength and flexibility and comfort.

[0053] To ensure safety in use, the flexible steel ring further includes an end sleeve 200, which can prevent the two ends of the flexible steel ring from piercing the bra; it also includes a covering layer 300, which provides further safety protection and enhances the flexibility and comfort of the flexible steel ring.

[0054] The end sleeve 200 and / or the coating layer 300 are made of one or more materials selected from silicone, heat shrink material, webbing, PU injection molding, PET or nylon powder coating. The silicone outer layer can increase flexibility and comfort; the heat shrink coating layer 300 can fit tightly with the stainless steel wire rope 100 to enhance the protective effect; the webbing wrapping the stainless steel wire rope 100 is stylish and beautiful, and enhances the grip; the PU injection molding stainless steel wire rope 100 has a unique touch, is soft like cotton when lightly pressed, and instantly hardens and protects when impacted, combining safety and comfort; the PET / nylon powder coating stainless steel wire rope 100 has the advantages of wear resistance and tear resistance, and the coating design can enhance the feel and extend the service life.

[0055] The flexible steel ring provided in this embodiment has achieved a major breakthrough in the performance of steel ring materials. By twisting the steel wire 110 into a stainless steel wire rope 100, the flexible steel ring has both high modulus rigidity and low modulus flexibility, taking into account the support and comfort requirements of the bra. Compared with traditional steel rings, the flexible steel ring can be deformed freely and is not easy to break. The angle can be adjusted at will according to the needs, adapting to various breast shape changes without feeling restrained. More importantly, the unique structural design of the flexible steel ring allows 360-degree free winding without deformation, ensuring the durability of the product.

[0056] To further improve comfort, Figure 3 As shown, the central angle of the arc of the stainless steel wire rope 100 is less than 180°, and the tangent angle α of the two end points is 40° to 50°. The central angle of the arc is less than 180°, that is, the two ends of the arc are open outward. The distance between the two end points of the stainless steel wire rope 100 is 110 to 140 mm. The above-mentioned angle and size restrictions make the flexible steel ring fit the female chest curve better, further improving comfort.

[0057] This embodiment also provides a method for manufacturing the flexible underwire, comprising the following steps:

[0058] S1. Take a certain length of stainless steel wire rope 100, design the target arc shape after forming, and determine the target curvature;

[0059] S2, placing the stainless steel wire rope 100 on a curved surface for bending and shaping, wherein the curvature of the curved surface is greater than the target curvature;

[0060] S3. After shaping, the stainless steel wire rope 100 is released and shaped, and the curvature becomes smaller to reach the target curvature.

[0061] Due to the property of the stainless steel wire rope 100 to rebound after bending, the bending angle during shaping, that is, the curvature of the curved surface, should be greater than the target curvature; after shaping is completed, it is taken out and the stainless steel wire rope 100 rebounds to achieve the target curvature.

[0062] like Figure 4 As shown, when the stainless steel wire rope 100 is bent and shaped on the curved surface, the central angle of the arc of the stainless steel wire rope 100 is greater than 180°, and the tangent angle β of the two end points of the curved surface is 60° to 80°. The central angle of the arc is greater than 180°, that is, the openings at both ends of the arc are inward.

[0063] The shaping method described in step S2 is to heat the stainless steel wire rope 100 and then cool it to shape, the heating temperature is 450°C, and the duration is 30 minutes. By heating and tempering, the shaped stainless steel wire rope 100 allows 360 degrees of free winding without deformation. The appropriate temperature and duration are conducive to enhancing the shaping effect. After heating, an oxide layer is formed on the surface of the stainless steel wire rope 100, which is conducive to protecting the surface of the stainless steel wire rope 100 from erosion and oxidation, and significantly prolonging its service life.

[0064] Step S2 is to stack a plurality of stainless steel wire ropes 100 on a curved surface for bending and shaping, so as to facilitate batch shaping and improve the efficiency of shaping processing.

[0065] Example 2

[0066] like Figure 5 As shown, this embodiment provides a shaping mold for manufacturing a flexible steel ring described in embodiment 1, comprising:

[0067] Base plate 400;

[0068] The shaping plate 500 is erected and fixed on the bottom plate 400, and has an arc-shaped cross section. The shaping plate 500 includes a first edge 510, an arc-shaped portion 520, and a second edge 530. The first edge 510 is rolled inward to form a first positioning groove, and the second edge 530 is rolled inward to form a second positioning groove.

[0069] The arc-shaped pressing plate 600 is fitted with the arc-shaped portion 520 of the shaping plate 500, and the two ends are respectively placed in the first positioning groove and the second positioning groove; and

[0070] The second pressing plate 700 is provided with a through hole, and the upper bottom surface of the shaping plate 500 is provided with a screw hole 521 corresponding to the position of the through hole, and the second pressing plate 700 is connected to the shaping plate 500 by screws passing through the through hole;

[0071] The bottom plate 400 , the shaping plate 500 and the arc-shaped pressing plate 600 together form a positioning space, and the positioning space has a certain height.

[0072] The center angle of the cross-sectional arc of the positioning space is greater than 180°, the tangent angle β between the two end points of the shaping plate 500 is 60° to 80°, and the bending angle of the stainless steel wire rope 100 when shaping in the positioning space is as follows: Figure 4 The central angle of the arc is greater than 180°, that is, the openings at both ends of the arc are retracted. The positioning space has a certain height, which is convenient for stacking multiple stainless steel wire ropes 100 on the curved surface for batch heating and shaping, thereby improving the efficiency of the shaping process.

[0073] The bottom plate 400 is provided with a bottom hole 410, which is convenient for placing the mold into the well furnace and hooking it out of the furnace by a hooking tool.

[0074] The shaping process of the flexible steel ring: the stainless steel wire rope 100 is placed side by side in the positioning space of the above-mentioned shaping mold, so that it is bent and pressed against the arc portion 520 of the shaping plate 500, and the stainless steel wire rope 100 is pressed by the arc pressing plate 600, and then the arc pressing plate 600 is pressed by the second pressing plate 700, and then heated for a certain period of time and cooled to shape. The shaped stainless steel wire rope 100 allows 360-degree free winding without deformation and is durable. Due to the nature of the stainless steel wire rope 100 rebounding after bending, the bending angle during shaping, that is, the curvature of the arc portion 520 of the shaping plate 500, should be greater than the target curvature; after shaping is completed, it is taken out, and the stainless steel wire rope 100 rebounds to achieve the target curvature.

[0075] Example 3

[0076] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is that the second positioning groove is formed in a different manner.

[0077] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the shaping mold further includes an outer folding portion 540 and an L-shaped plate 550, wherein the outer folding portion 540 is connected to the second edge 530 and is bent outward, and the L-shaped plate 550 is erected on the bottom plate 400, and has an L-shaped cross section, wherein the first wing 551 of the L-shaped plate 550 is attached to the outer folding portion 540 of the shaping plate 500 and connected via a fixing member, and the second wing 552 of the L-shaped plate 550 and the arc-shaped portion 520 of the shaping plate 500 form a second positioning groove. The above structure makes the L-shaped plate 550 detachable, and when in use, the distance between the L-shaped plate 550 and the shaping plate 500 is adjusted, so as to facilitate the placement and removal of the stainless steel wire rope 100 into and out of the shaping mold, and to adjust the degree to which the stainless steel wire rope 100 is compressed.

[0078] Example 4

[0079] The difference between this embodiment and the third embodiment is that the second pressing plate 700 is replaced by a pressing block (not shown in the figure).

[0080] The pressing block is provided with a through hole, and the upper bottom surface of the shaping plate 500 is provided with a screw hole 521 corresponding to the position of the through hole, and the pressing block is connected to the shaping plate 500 by screws passing through the through hole. The function of the pressing block is to fix the arc-shaped pressing plate 600 in the positioning space together with the shaping plate 500, so that the arc-shaped pressing plate 600 can further press the stainless steel wire rope 100, thereby completing the heating shaping in the mold.

[0081] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are only examples for clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the specific implementation methods of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the claims of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible steel ring, characterized in that: The invention comprises an arc-shaped stainless steel wire rope, which is twisted from a plurality of steel wires; firstly, n steel wires are twisted into one strand of steel wire, and then m strands of steel wires are twisted into the stainless steel wire rope.

2. A flexible steel ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: m∈[5,9], n∈[5,9].

3. A flexible steel ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the steel wire is 0.01-0.15 mm, and the diameter of the stainless steel wire rope is 1.0-2.5 mm.

4. A flexible steel ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a coating layer, which is coated on the surface of the stainless steel wire rope.

5. A flexible steel ring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The arc center angle of the stainless steel wire rope is less than 180°, and the tangent angles of the two end points are 40° to 50°.

6. A bra, characterized in that: A flexible steel ring comprising any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A method for manufacturing a flexible steel ring according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The steps include: S1. Take a certain length of stainless steel wire rope, design the target arc shape after forming, and determine the target curvature; S2, placing the stainless steel wire rope on a curved surface for bending and shaping, wherein the curvature of the curved surface is greater than the target curvature; S3. After shaping, the stainless steel wire rope is released and shaped, and the curvature becomes smaller to reach the target curvature.

8. The manufacturing method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The central angle of the arc of the curved surface is greater than 180°, and the tangent angle between two end points of the curved surface is 60° to 80°.

9. The manufacturing method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The shaping method described in step S2 is to heat the stainless steel wire rope and then cool it to shape it.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The heating temperature is 400-500°C and the heating time is 20-40 minutes.

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