METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LOOP SEAM

Description

Technical environment

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a loop seam intended for trimming and joining textile pieces using a thread-shaped connecting element. State of the art

[0002] Methods for trimming and joining textile pieces are known in various forms from the prior art. Documents CH 602 960 A5, US 408 009 A and EP 0 573 886 A1 are mentioned here as examples.

[0003] Hemming, also known as edge finishing, is a process that finishes the edges of a piece of fabric in such a way that the material cannot fray. This is usually achieved using either an overlock or coverlock stitch, also called a zigzag stitch, which is done on sewing machines that typically handle more than three threads simultaneously. Another option for hemming is to finish and secure the edge using the so-called folded or hemmed method. For this, the fabric edge is folded inwards once, then a second time if necessary, and finally secured with a seam. The previously open edge of the fabric is then on the inside and can no longer fray.

[0004] Such measures are essential to produce clothing designed for heavy use, such as workwear or sportswear, with the necessary durability.

[0005] Furthermore, seams connecting textile pieces for clothing production are known in various designs. The needles used and their corresponding sizes play a significant role in the production of these seams. Needle diameters and points are available for different materials. A common problem is that materials with different textures (for example, leather or foil-like materials) cannot be successfully joined because the needles used are specifically designed for only one of the materials and may not be able to penetrate both simultaneously, which is a fundamental requirement for a reliable seam. In this context, seam breaks are known to occur due to the material and its toughness, resulting in corresponding material and time losses in garment production.In some cases, garments may need to be reworked or discarded entirely, generating waste, which is obviously detrimental from an environmental protection perspective.

[0006] In particular, when manufacturing and processing materials made from synthetic fibers, there is also the problem that, due to friction at the needle, the resistance within the material used negatively affects the threads necessary for joining, causing the sewing machine to malfunction.

[0007] Furthermore, practical experience has shown that while modern sewing machines are equipped with the ability to adjust various parameters such as stitch size, thread tension, and sewing speed to suit different requirements, it is still possible to experience skipped stitches. In these cases, the needle either doesn't penetrate the fabric at all, or the stitches are too small, too large, or irregular, contrary to the intended settings on the machine. The resulting seam is therefore flawed and cannot be removed, requiring it to be unpicked and resewn. With some materials, such as delicate cottons or silk, the entire garment must be replaced, as the seams cannot be removed without damaging the fabric. This also results in additional time and material waste, thus increasing environmental impact and costs.

[0008] Another disadvantage of the prior art is the problem commonly known as presser foot height: every sewing machine has a certain amount of play in the height under the presser foot (the device that surrounds the needle and presses the material downwards and together to facilitate sewing). This means that above a certain height, sewing is prevented because the machine cannot grip and feed the fabric. This problem occurs particularly when working with leather and manufacturing clothing from very thick and numerous layers of material. Object of the invention

[0009] Based on the known state of the art and the well-known problems described above, the object of the invention is to provide a novel method for hemming and joining textile pieces, which enables easier processing, less waste, and thus reduced environmental impact, and furthermore allows the production of clothing from entirely different material compositions. Finally, the production of textile pieces from numerous layers of fabric in the area of ​​trouser waistbands and collars should also be easily carried out, and corresponding materials such as films and rubber should be able to be processed. Solution to the task

[0010] The problem stated is solved according to the invention by the technical teaching set out in the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0011] The novel method is essentially characterized by the following process sequence steps: Making notches in the edge area of ​​the textile piece intended for hemming, wherein the notches are arranged parallel to the textile edge, spaced apart from it, and side by side; forming the thread-like connecting element into a loop; pulling the formed loop from the front to the back of the textile piece through one of the notches made in the edge area of ​​the textile piece in such a way that, after being pulled through, the formed loop is located on the back; forming a further second loop in front of the notch on the front of the textile piece; guiding the second loop over the edge area of ​​the textile piece in such a way that the tip of the second loop passes through the eyelet-like opening of the first loop located on the back of the textile piece.Returning the second loop to the front of the textile piece and pulling the second loop from the front to the back of the textile piece through a next notch located laterally adjacent to the previous notch, such that after pulling it through, the formed second loop is located on the back, which is used to continue the process to create a new first loop.

[0012] The described process steps represent the production of a partial area of ​​the loop seam according to the invention, wherein the production process of a partial area is repeated after completion of the last process step, so that ultimately a continuous loop seam is achieved for trimming textile pieces and - after completion of the trimming - for joining two textile pieces.

[0013] A key aspect of the novel loop seam and its production is that, due to the perforation of the fabric material as the first basic step of the process, no special consideration needs to be given to either the materials to be joined (no special needle-specific precautions are necessary with regard to, for example, the joining of leather and foil materials) or their thickness.

[0014] Optimal solutions can be chosen for the perforation of the material, as this process step is independent of the other work required to produce the loop seam.

[0015] Furthermore, it should be noted that the creation of the cutouts or the perforation of the materials can be carried out precisely even in technically complex areas, thus preventing material damage. It is worth pointing out here that when inserting a zipper, the needles of conventional sewing machines often strike the metal of the zipper, and the resulting bending or breakage of the needle damages the machine. By pre-perforating the material, the seam line is determined before sewing, so that, as described above, such material problems cannot occur in the first place.

[0016] Additionally, it is a positive aspect that the perforation of the material avoids a correspondingly large number of stitches during production, as described above, and also mitigates the problem of having to sew thick materials or a large number of material layers.

[0017] Furthermore, the edge finishing described above is significantly simplified by the novel method for creating a loop seam. Depending on the ratio of the materials to be joined to the edge width, in addition to the buffer perforation, the diameter of the loops, and the spacing of the perforations, the respective edge can be finished with just one strip, strand, or bundle of thread while simultaneously sewing several layers of fabric together.

[0018] Edge finishing in current industry typically requires one or more separate work steps, or machines that need at least two differently oriented threads to create a seam. Furthermore, these machines cannot perform the overlocking and seaming steps in a single operation for all materials. The conventional process known from the prior art involves first finishing the edges of the fabrics with an overlock machine, and then joining the fabrics together in a subsequent step using a conventional sewing machine. This requires the use of several different machines, which naturally result in corresponding energy consumption and are considered problematic from both a cost and environmental perspective.

[0019] In contrast, in the method according to the invention, the spacing of the perforations is such that, in relation to the distance to the fabric edge and the diameter of the loop formed by the joining material during the sewing process, the fabric edge is folded over and fixed in place by pulling the corresponding loop along the seam, thus finishing the edge. The finishing function of the loop seam according to the invention is therefore superior to conventional edge finishing in that it achieves in a single step what is possible in the prior art in several steps (single or multiple folds of the edge followed by stitching).

[0020] In practice, it has also proven advantageous that, compared to current technology, elastic materials can be processed without difficulty, while maintaining the maximum elasticity of the resulting seams. While conventional, modern industrial sewing machines can process elastic thread under certain conditions, this does not make the seam itself highly elastic or ensure it remains so. To create secure, tear-resistant, and durable elastic seams, an overlock machine with at least two threads running in different directions is essential.

[0021] The loop seam according to the invention facilitates the creation of elastic seams that are highly resilient and tear-resistant, using only a single thread, which can also be strips or bundles of connecting material made from old garments. In practical trials, recycled pantyhose have proven to be the ideal material for producing such strips as connecting material. From an environmental perspective, this represents an excellent resource, as pantyhose are often worn only once and then discarded. Of course, the seam according to the invention is also applicable to non-recycled materials.

[0022] Finally, regarding the advantages of the invention, it should be noted that the formation of eyelets during the process steps can be considered a further benefit. The eyelets are created during the seam production process by interlocking the loops. These can be used for cords or buttonholes and represent a functional and aesthetically pleasing aspect of the seam, while the edge finishing remains intact even under load and tensile stress. The strength can be adjusted by the ratio of the diameter of the connecting material to the distance between the material edge and the material perforation, resulting in an extremely durable seam. This allows for more durable clothing and thus significantly reduces the associated CO2 emissions. At the same time, production steps such as sewing buttonholes or attaching eyelets are eliminated.This means fewer machines and less energy are needed, which in turn means fewer emissions and less working time.

[0023] Since the fashion industry still exhibits considerable growth rates, which naturally, especially in today's climate with its increased sensitivity to environmental issues regarding production and transport, entail annual CO2 emissions in the millions of tons, while also releasing large quantities of pesticides during production, consuming enormous amounts of water for cotton production, and extracting and refining large quantities of petroleum for the production of synthetic fibers, trends have emerged in the recent past to consider the generation of used clothing from recycling perspectives.

[0024] In this context, it is quite useful to consider the generation of used clothing in terms of its potential for recycling. Economical, quick, and clean separation of the clothing components is of great importance in this regard. The loop seam produced by the inventive method has the advantage, due to its nature, of being quick to create and even quicker to undo. The interlocking of the loops creates a stable seam without knotting. By simply pulling on the beginning or end points of a seam, all the connecting material can be completely and residue-free removed from the seam and thus fully recycled.The previously bonded materials are residue-free and can be clearly identified. Thanks to the remaining perforation, they can be re-bonded and thus directly recycled, processed into other products, or used to create new bonding material. Complete recycling becomes simple, quick, and therefore economically viable and competitive – a true innovation in this field and in the textile industry. The lifespan of a garment is significantly extended; even textiles with a typically short lifespan (such as pantyhose) can serve as bonding material, resulting in a considerably longer life cycle and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

[0025] Many fiber blends, the composition of different fabrics, and attached buttons and zippers often make economically viable fiber separation difficult. While the mechanical separation of fibers, especially cotton and wool, is a technically established process, it comes at the expense of quality. Large quantities of virgin fibers must be added to produce usable yarns, the recycling of synthetic fibers is significantly limited, and only a few companies offer chemical recycling of synthetic materials. Chemical processes for restoring natural fibers are possible but still require considerable investment in research and development.

[0026] Due to its simplicity, the described method is suitable for both manual and machine production.

[0027] In the realm of high-end fashion, such as haute couture, a certain degree of handcraftsmanship is a prerequisite for meeting the fundamental criteria for entering the industry (haute couture creations must be bespoke, handcrafted, and unique). The looped seam according to the invention is particularly interesting in this context, as it can be produced entirely and exclusively by hand, making it conceivable for a fashion company to operate completely without machines and without CO2 emissions. Due to its versatility and rapid implementation, the seam is especially competitive, and the hand-crafted looped seam is visually striking, representing an ideal aesthetic trademark and distinguishing feature. Furthermore, it can be applied by hand to areas, even in very expressive—and extreme—forms, that a machine might not be able to replicate.

[0028] In addition to clothing, products designed for handcrafting are also conceivable, creating additional sales dimensions. For example, consider self-sewing kits that, using pre-cut pattern pieces, pre-perforated openings, matching fasteners, and appropriate clips to guide the fasteners through the perforations, can be easily and aesthetically assembled by hand following a clear step-by-step guide. The result is a textile garment with handcrafted elements that can later be worn as fashionable clothing, with the concept of genuine and true sustainability through the use of recycled materials adding an extra positive element.It is not insignificant that the inventive method does not require sharp needles, which pose a potential health hazard, so that such sets can also be used for children's clothing.

[0029] Special embodiments of the method according to the invention also result from the dependent claims relating back to the main claim in conjunction with the features of claim 1.

[0030] It has proven particularly advantageous to have the second loop, which passes through the first loop on the back of the fabric piece, pass through either from the front or from the back. Both variations offer a favorable configuration depending on the application.

[0031] Furthermore, a convenient further development of the inventive method provides that, after the loop has been pulled through one of the recesses of the textile piece, the loop located on the back side is twisted at least once in itself.

[0032] Furthermore, it may be advantageous, after completion of the production of the loop seam according to the invention, to draw a further thread-shaped connecting element through the first loop to couple the first textile piece provided with the loop seam to a second textile piece, which has an identically shaped second further loop seam produced according to the method of the claim in the edge region of the second textile piece, wherein the further thread-shaped connecting element is guided through the corresponding first loop of the further loop seam. Character description

[0033] An exemplary embodiment of the loop seam produced according to the inventive method for hemming and joining textile pieces using a thread-like connecting element is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows: Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic representation of the first process step for producing the loop seam; Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of two possibilities following the process step. Figure 1 Figure 3 is a perspective schematic representation of the second process step for producing the loop seam; Figure 4 is a perspective schematic representation of what follows the second process step; Figure 5 is a perspective schematic representation of a first design variant following the process step. Figure 4Figure 5: Legs, perspective schematic representation of a second design variant, following the next step in the process. Figure 4 Figure 6, a perspective schematic representation of the subsequent step on the back in Figure 5A or 5B The illustrated process step, Figure 7, is a perspective schematic representation of the last process step following on from the one of the Figure 6 and Figure 8 a perspective schematic representation of a connection of two textile pieces using the loop seam according to the invention.

[0034] On the schematic diagrams of the Figures 1 to 8Each figure shows a piece of textile marked with the reference number 1, in which, for the sake of simplicity, two adjacent cutouts are visible. The cutouts 2 are designed as round holes in the textile body 1 and are created in the edge area of ​​the textile body 1 as perforations parallel to the edge of the textile body using suitable tools.

[0035] A thread-like connecting element 3 is pulled through the central hole of the perforation from the front through the textile piece 1, so that a first loop 4 is formed on the back. The free ends of the connecting element 3 thus protrude forward from the textile piece 1.

[0036] After threading through and forming loop 4, this loop 4 can be adjusted according to the illustration of the Figure 2in embodiment A, it may be arranged without twisting, or according to embodiment B, as a loop with a single or (not shown) multiple twisting.

[0037] After the loop 4 has been formed, a second loop 5 is formed from the thread-like connecting element 3 in the next step to create the loop seam, as shown in the Figure 3 as indicated.

[0038] In the Figure 4 The next step in the process is to be seen as the following: the Figure 3 The second loop 5 formed is brought over the edge of the textile piece 1 to the opening of the loop 4. Bringing it to the loop 4 can be done from its reverse side ( Figure 5A ) or from their front (Figure 5B). Both options are possible and are selected according to design considerations.

[0039] After carrying out the in the Figure 4In the illustrated process step, the loop 5 is guided from the rear plane of the textile piece 1 back to the front, so that it is possible to pull the front end of the loop 5 through the further recess located next to the one recess 2.

[0040] In Figure 7The final process step of pulling the free end of the loop 5 through the further recess 2 is shown. The loop 5 is thus in the same starting position as already shown in Figure 1. The process sequence, as shown in Figures 2 to 8, can now begin again. A series of individual loops are formed, which, viewed as a whole along the edge of the textile piece 1, form the loop seam according to the invention. By pulling the individual loops together, the edge of the textile piece 1 is bound, resulting in a hem that provides reliable protection against fraying of the edge of the textile piece 1. Figure 7To clarify the fact that after passing loop 5 through the further recess 2, a new beginning for the production of another single loop is brought about, loop 5 is simultaneously marked as loop 4 NEW.

[0041] In the presentation of the Figure 8 Finally, it is illustrated how two textile pieces 1, each provided with a loop seam according to the invention at their adjacent edge regions, can be coupled to one another by means of a thread-like connecting band 6. For this purpose, the connecting band 6 is alternately passed through the adjacent loops 4 and 5 present in the loop seam. This results in a shoelace-like coupling of the loop seams and, after tightening the connecting band 6 and the connecting elements 3 belonging to the two loop seams, a connecting seam of the two textile pieces 1 to be coupled is formed.

[0042] The described joining technique, as well as the production of the loop seam according to the invention, are described in the Figures 1-8 Each is shown with thread-like connecting elements 3 or connecting strip 6. The scope of protection of the invention is not affected if, for example, recycled fabric strips are used as connecting elements 3 or connecting strip 6, and these are made from wider fabric strips. As already described, the use of such fabric strips allows for a special, visually interesting additional effect for design purposes. Reference symbol list

[0043] 1. Textile piece 2. Recess 3. Connecting element 4. First loop 5. Second loop 6. Connecting strap

Claims

1. Method for producing a loop seam intended for hemming and joining pieces of textile using a thread-like connecting element, comprising the following successive method steps: • introducing cutouts (2) in the edge region of the piece of textile (1) intended for hemming, the cutouts (2) being arranged parallel to the textile border, spaced apart from it and side by side, • forming the thread-like connecting element into a first loop (4), • pulling the formed loop (4) through from the front to the back of the piece of textile (1) through one of the cutouts (2) introduced in the edge region of the piece of textile (1) in such a way that, after it has been pulled through, the formed loop (4) is located on the back, characterized by the subsequent and successive method steps: • forming a further second loop (5) in front of the cutout (2) on the front of the piece of textile (1), • guiding the second loop (5) over the edge region of the piece of textile (1) in such a way that the tip of the second loop (5) passes through the eyelet-like opening of the first loop (4) located on the back of the piece of textile (1), • returning the second loop (5) to the front of the piece of textile (1) and pulling the second loop (5) through from the front to the back of the piece of textile (1) through a next cutout (2) located laterally adjacent to the previous cutout in such a way that, after it has been pulled through, the formed second loop (5) is located on the back, which loop is used to form a new first loop (4 NEW) for continuing the method.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutouts (2) in the edge region of the piece of textile (1) are designed as perforations with a round diameter.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that before the cutouts (2) are introduced in the edge region of the piece of textile (1), this edge region is folded inward at least once toward the center of the piece of textile (1), with the (2) cutouts being located in the region outside the folded in edge region.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the edge region of the piece of textile (1) is folded inward twice, so that three superimposed textile layers of the piece of textile (1) result in the edge region.

5. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that after the loop (4) has been pulled through one of the cutouts (1) of the piece of textile, the loop (4) located on the back is twisted in on itself at least once.

6. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second loop (5) passes through the first loop (4) on the back of the piece of textile (1) from the front.

7. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second loop (5) passes through the first loop (4) on the back of the piece of textile (1) from behind.

8. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a further thread-like connecting element (6) is drawn through the first loop (4) to couple the first piece of textile (1) to a second piece of textile (1), which has an identically formed second further loop seam produced according to the method of claim 1, arranged in the edge region of the second piece of textile (1), the further thread-like connecting element (6) being guided through the corresponding first loop (4) of the further loop seam.