METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TIES, AND TIES MADE BY THIS METHOD

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing ties consisting of interwoven tapes (101, 201). According to this method, the single tie portions (C1, C2, C3) are cut out from a piece (7) of fabric (1) of interwoven warp and weft tapes (101, 201). This piece of fabric (1) may be bonded, for example, by means of a hot-melt adhesive, to a base web (4) made of a woven or not woven fabric or of a plastics material foil. Anyway, before or after the tie portions (C1, C2, C3) having been cut out, the said tie portions are peripherally provided with selvedge seams (9) at least along the tie portions cutting lines (8).

Description: The object of the invention is a method for manufacturing ties that consist of interwoven tapes, particularly fabric tapes. The invention aims to enable an easy and accurate manufacture on an industrial scale of the above-stated kind of ties, notwithstanding the not much stable consistency of their texture. To this end, the method according to the invention is characterized by the feature that either the whole tie or the single tie portions is or are cut out from a fabric formed by interwoven warp and weft tapes, and is or are peripherally provided at least along the edges of the cuts in this fabric, with a selvedge seam. EP-A-0126493 discloses or method for manufacturing ties. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the peripheral selvedge seams are made in the single tie portions before these portions having been cut out from the fabric formed by interwoven warp and weft tapes. Thus, any unravelling is prevented of the tie portion edges both upon these portions being cut out from the fabric and thereafter, during their subsequent processing. According to another embodiment of the invention, before the single tie portions having been cut out, the fabric formed by interwoven warp and weft tapes, is caused to adhere to a thin flexible base web. This base web gives the fabric of interwoven tapes a greater cohesion and stability when the tie portions are being cut out, and also when they are subsequently processed, whereby the handling of the cut tie portions and the manufacturing of a tie is facilitated. When the fabric of interwoven tapes is bonded to a base web, the peripheral selvedge seams in the tie portions may be made at will either before the tie portions having been cut out from the thus obtained composite fabric, or after such a cutting, thanks to the greater strength and stability of the edges of the cut tie portions. In any case, it is just convenient to provide the said peripheral selvedge seams, since the interwoven and alternately overlapped tapes do not stick uninterruptedly throughout their length on the base web. With the method according to the invention any suitable fabric of interwoven warp and weft tapes may be used. Thus, for example, the interwoven tapes may be of a same width or of different widths, and the same may be made of any suitable material, such as any suitable fabric of synthetic or natural fibres, or suchas leather, plastics, or any suitable not woven fabric, or the like. According to a preferred feature of the invention, when the single tapes are made of a woven fabric, each single tape is provided with selvedges or with selvedge seams, so as to prevent the unravelling of its edges. Any suitable material, such as, for example, a woven or a not woven fabric of synthetic or natural fibres, or a foil of plastics material, may be used as base web. The base web may be bonded to the fabric of interwoven tapes in any suitable manner and by means of any suitable adhesive, such as, for example, a hot-melt adhesive, and more particularly by means of an adhesive layer which is provided in dried condition on the base web and is made flowable by application of heat. Further features and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the following specification of some preferred embodiments of the same, which are shown by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a piece of fabric of interwoven warp and weft tapes, the single tie portions are cut out. Figure 2 is a side elevational view diagrammatically showing a device for bonding a base web to a fabric of interwoven tapes. Figure 3 shows a piece of fabric of interwoven tapes bonded to a base web. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view through the composite fabric according to Figure 3. Figures 5 and 6 are front views showing two different types of ties made from fabrics of interwoven tapes. Referring to the Figures, the ties according to the invention are made from a fabric 1 in which the weft and the warp rather than consisting of yarn, consist of tapes 101, 201 which are preferably made of woven fabric, the whole in such a manner that the fabric 1 of interwoven weft and warp tapes 101, 102 will have a bold pattern in form of a mat-like weave. The tapes 101, 201 may be made of any suitable material or a combination of materials that will give the tapes aesthetically pleasing properties of lightness, resiliency, and wear resistance. Advantageously, the tapes 101, 201 may be made of a synthetic material, such as rayon, or of silk, cotton, or any other suitable natural fibres. The tapes 101, 201 have their longitudinal edges with no fraying, since they are provided with a selvedge, and may be with longitudinal seams also for an ornamental purpose. The tapes 101, 201 may be woven so as to present a satiny surface, such that the weft and warp tapes will appear either glossy or opaque depending on the different incidence of light thereon. The tapes 101, 201 used as weft and warp tapes in the fabric 1 are preferably like in shape, in colour, and in size; it is however understood that they may differ in one or more of these features. The said tapes 101, 201 may be of only one colour, or of any combined colours, and with any desired pattern. Aesthetically satisfying results have been obtained by using tapes 101, 201 having a width smaller than 1 cm., preferably a width of about 5 to 6 mm. or of 3 mm. It is however understood that the tapes 101, 201 may have any suitable width, even different from the above specified widths. According to a modified embodiment of the invention, not shown since it is conceivable, the fabric 1 may be made with the combined us of tapes and threads, for example, of weft ribbons and warp threads, or vice-versa. To be enabled to use the fabric 1 of interwoven tapes 101, 201 for making ties, a textural coherence should be conveniently given to said fabric in order to prevent any ralative displacement of the tapes 101, 201 composing the same, which would lead to the forming of disagreeable and unaesthetic openings or gaps. This problem was solved by taking the following measure. As shown in Figure 2, the fabric 1 of interwoven tapes 101, 201 issuing from the loom for manufacturing same, is first wound up in form of a bobbin 2 and is then unwound therefrom and fed between the parallel plates 3, 103 of a press with its lower plate 3 being stationary and with its upper plate 103 being liftable and lowerable as shown by the double arrow F. One or both of these plates can be heated. Before the insertion of the fabric 1 of interwoven tapes between the said plates 3, 103, to be pressed and heated, the said fabric 1 is superimposed upon a base web 4 being unwound from a bobbin 5, and which at least on its face turned toward the said fabric 1, has been treated beforehand with a hot-melt adhesive, more particularly coated with an adhesive layer in dried condition, which is then made flowable by application of heat. The result is that when the hot plate 103 is drawn down on the plate 3, the fabric 1 and the base web 4 become bound to each other. Thereafter, when the plate 103 will be lifted up the length of composite fabric 1-4 having just been hot bonded, is wound up on a bobbin 6. Numerals 5-105 and 5′-105′ denote pairs of idle and/or powered rollers which may be placed upstream and downstream of the press 3, 103 in order to facilitate the longitudinal movement and the positioning of the fabric 1 and the base web 4. It is understood that the means in Figure 2 are shown merely for illustrative purposes, and that any other, even continuously operated, suitable means may be used for hot bonding the fabric 1 of interwoven tapes 101, 201 and the base web 4. In order to improve the bonding effect, it is even contemplated that the surface of the fabric 1 which is intended for a close union with the base web 4, may be also treated beforehand with a hot-melt adhesive. The base web 4 may be made from any suitable, sufficiently light, sufficiently resilient material of a reduced thickness. The base web 4 may be made of a woven fabric of synthetic or natural fibres, or of a non-woven fabric, or it may be formed with a film of a suitably perforated, high temperature-withstanding synthetic material. It is finally contemplated that the base web 4 may even consists of a net formed only by a hot-melt adhesive. The composite fabric 1-4 has a width dimension which ideally should be in the order of one meter, so that by slantingly cutting the said fabric it would be possible to obtain therefrom a strip long about 1.30 to 1.45 m., as required for making a one-piece seamless tie. However, with the presently available looms it is only possible to make a fabric 1 of interwoven tapes having a width of about 70 cm. From this fabric 1 provided with the base web 4, pieces 7 of 70 × 50 cm. or of 70 × 55 cm. are obtained, as shown in Figure 1. From one-half of a piece 7 of composite fabric 1-4, three side-by-side tie portions C1-C2-C3 are cut out by means of oblique cuts 8 (shown by dash-and-dot lines), the said portions being of such a shape and width that the same can be attached the one to the other in proper, succession to form a tie. A further set of like tie portions C1-C2-C3 arranged in the reserve direction to the former, are cut out from the other half of the same piece 7 of composite fabric 1-4, and are used for making another tie. It is understood that the cutting pattern in Figure 1 is shown merely for illustrative purposes, and that the same may be widely modified. Actually, it is even contemplated that by a different pattern of slanting cuts 8, or of any other type, it will be possible to make ties formed from two portions or, as specified above, from only one piece. Before or after the said cutting step of a piece 7 of composite fabric 1-4, the edges of the tie portions C1,C2,C3, are provided along their perimeter with selvedge seams 9, such that the interlacement of the fabric 1 of interwoven tapes will not become unravelled. Preferably, but not indispensably, the selvedge seams 9 are made also along the tie portion edges which are not to be conjoined, as shown in Figure 1. It is however understood that the selvedge seams 9 may be made along the whole perimeter of the tie portions or the one tie piece. At this stage, the tie manufacturing cycle goes on according to known steps which by way of a non-limiting example, may be summarized as follows: a) the tie portions C1-C2-C3 or a different number of tie portions intended for making a tie, when more than one in number, are conjoined by the operation of sewing them by means of a sewing machine; b) a lining is applied to the not visible or inside faces of the two end sections, the so-called "palm" (large end) and "tail" (short end), of a tie having been semimanufactured according to the preceding step; c) the partly lined semimanufactured tie is ironed a first time; d) the tie core, which is called "the stem", is prepared. Usually, this stem consists of two pieces to be conjoined; e) the semimanufactured tie with its stem is fitted on a special shaping fixture on which the tie is given a tubular form and is suitably tacked by means of pins. A small pin is permanently placed in the palm, in order to keep it closely connected; f) the connected longitudinal edges of the tie are hand-sewn, and respective loops are formed at both ends of the loosely stitched seam, so as to give the seam the required yieldingness and the whole tie the required pliability. The ends of the seam are then secured by making a few cross-stitches, the so-called "bars"; g) the trade mark is printed on the tie; h) finally, the finished tie is again ironed, and this tie may be packed in a suitable wrapper. According to a different tie-manufacturing method, in lieu of the above manual step e), the use may be contemplated of an apparatus known by the trade name "Liba", whereby the ties are given a tubular form, by having a "hand stitch" seam made on the reverse side of the ties. Thereafter, by using a special stick, the ties which have been sewn on their reverse side are turned over, with their right side out. The two end sections of a tie are then fitted on a suitable shaping fixture of cardboard, and the aforementioned loops and bars are made, whereupon the operation is completed by carrying out the steps g) and h) of the described cycle. It is understood that numerous modifications may be brought to the method according to the invention, which may, for example, consist in products different from hot-melt adhesives, such as self-adhesive bonding agents or natural and/or synthetic glues, being used for fastening together the fabric 1 of interwoven tapes 101, 201 and the base web 4. Textile material hoses may be used in place of the said tapes 101, 201. In a different way from the disclosed one, the composite fabric 1-4 instead of being slantingly cut, may be cut in the direction of its width or of its length. In such a modified embodiment, the weft and the warp of the fabric 1 instead of being orientated at 45° to the longitudinal axis of the tie 10, as shown in Figure 5, will be respectively parallel and perpendicular to said axis, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 6. According to a further modified embodiment, the composite fabric 1-4 may be still cut according to an oblique cutting pattern, however with an inclination other than 45°. By using a base web 4 with suitable properties, the insertion of the stem into a tie, according to the step d), may be even avoided. As stated above, a tie may be formed from two or more portions, or from only one piece of the composite fabric 1-4. In any of the embodiments as dislosed above, the piece of composite fabric 1-4 may be replaced with a piece of simple fabric 1 of interwoven warp and weft tapes 101, 201, i.e., without a base web 4, so that by means of cuts 8 the tie portions C1, C2, C3 may be cut out from a simple piece 7 of fabric 1 of interwoven tapes 101, 201. In this instance, before the cuts 8 having been made so as to obtain the tie portions C1, C2, C3, in these tie portions selvedge seams 9 are made at least along the predetermined tie portions cutting lines, and preferably along the whole perimeter of each tie portions C1, C2, C3, for example as shown in Figure 1.

Claims: 1. A method of manufacturing ties (10) consisting of interwoven tapes (101, 201), particularly fabric tapes, the tie portions (C1, C2, C3) being cut out from a piece (7) of fabric (1) formed by interwoven warp and weft tapes (101, 201), characterized in that said tie portions are peripherally provided with selvedge seams (9) along the tie portions cutting lines (8) in said fabric (1). 2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral selvedge seams (9) in the tie portions (C1, C2, C3) are made before these tie portions having been cut out from a piece (7) of fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201). 3. The method according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that before the said tie portions (C1, C2, C3) having been cut out, the fabric (1) of interwoven warp and weft tapes (101, 201) is caused to adhere to a thin flexible base web (4). 4. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral selvedge seams (9) in the tie portions (C1, C2, C3) are made either before or after the said tie portions having been cut out from the composite fabric (1-4). 5. The method according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that as fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201), a fabric (1) of woven or not woven fabric tapes (101, 201) is used. 6. The method according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that as fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201), a fabric (1) of woven tapes (101, 201) provided with selvedges or selvedge seams, is used. 7. The method according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that as base web (4), woven or not woven fabrics of synthetic or natural fibres, or plastics material foils are used. 8. The method according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201) is bonded to the base web (4) by means of a hot-melt adhesive. 9. The method according to Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that as base web (4), a net consisting of a dried hot-melt adhesive, is used. 10. The method according to Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that as fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201), a fabric (1), is used, which consists of interwoven rayon or silk tapes (101, 201). 11. The method according to Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that as fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201), a fabric (1) is used, in which the width of the single tapes (101, 201) is not greater than 10 mm., and preferably is in the order of 3 mm. or of 5-6 mm. 12. The method according to Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that as fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201), a fabric (1) is used, in which at least the weft tapes (101) or at least the warp tapes (201) have such a visible satiny surface as to present either a glossy or an opaque aspect, as a function of the different incidence of light thereon. 13. The method according to Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that as fabric (1) of interwoven tapes (101, 201), a fabric (1) is used, in which the single tapes (101, 201) consist of textile material hoses. 14. The method according to Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the fabric (1) of interwoven warp and weft tapes (101, 201) and the base web (4) provided with a layer of hot-melt adhesive, are unwound from respective bobbins (2, 5) and are passed in superposed relation, between the heated plates of a press. 15. A tie manufactured by the method according to Claims 1 to 14, being made from one or more tie portions (C1, C2, C3) which are cut out from a piece (7) of a fabric (1) of interwoven warp and weft tapes (101, 201), and characterized in that said tie portions are peripherally provided along the tie portions cutting lines with selvedge seams (9).

Inventors: FINI, CARLO
Applicants: A. TESTONI S.P.A.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A41D25
IPC codes: A41D25