Abstract:
A bias tape making device including a housing, a spindle rotatably disposed in the housing for supporting a strip of fabric, at least one bias tape folding tip located in the housing in communication with the spindle for folding the strip of material into a bias tape having folded longitudinal edges, and a heated pressing assembly disposed in the housing for receiving the bias tape and setting the folded longitudinal edges of the bias tape. The device includes a plurality of interchangeable bias tape folding tips to produce a variety of different sized single fold bias tapes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for making bias tape for finishing and/or decorating garments or the like, and more particularly to a device that folds and presses a flat strip of bias cut fabric into a single fold bias tape. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Relate Art 
         [0004]    Bias tape is made from fabric strips that are cut along the bias grain. Because fabric cut on this grain has a great deal of stretch, the tape fits smoothly around curves without adding unnecessary bulk. Bias tape can be used in place of a facing to finish curved edges, such as armholes, necklines of garments, as well as to finish the edges of many household decorative items, such as quilts and place mats. 
         [0005]    There are two types of bias tape—single-fold and double-fold. Single-fold bias tape actually has two folds—one running along each long edge of the tape. When single-fold bias tape is used to finish an item, it is stitched to the item edge with right sides together, and then it is turned to the inside of the item and stitched again. The tape never shows on the outside of the garment. 
         [0006]    Bias tape is commercially available, however, often there are numerous devices available to fold custom single-fold bias tape. U.S. Pat. No. 1,018,227 discloses a bias band maker wherein a fabric strip is passed through the band to produce folds along the longitudinal ends. Thereafter, a conventional iron can be used to press the edges in place. 
         [0007]    A more recent bias tape maker enables a strip of fabric to be passed between an inner and outer shell to produce a pair of longitudinally extending folds. A strip of fusible tape can also be incorporated between the folds. Thereafter, the folds can be fixed or set by ironing. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,516. 
         [0008]    It is burdensome and dangerous to set the folds with an iron or other conventional pressing means. Often the bias tape needs to be of long lengths and the edges can become unfolded or uneven during pressing of the strip. 
         [0009]    Thus, there is a need for a bias tape maker that folds a strip of material and thermally sets the folds in an even and expeditious manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a bias tape maker having a strip folding and thermal fold setting capability. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention is a bias tape maker device that has a pressing device that presses the folds without the user having any contact with the heating elements. 
         [0012]    Yet another aspect of the bias tape maker is to accommodate the creation of multiple sizes of a single-fold bias tape. 
         [0013]    Still another aspect of the bias tape maker of the present invention is to enable different types of material to be pressed by providing temperature adjustability and control of the heating assembly. 
         [0014]    According to these and other aspects of the present invention there is provided a bias tape making device including a housing, a spindle rotatably disposed in the housing for supporting a strip of fabric, at least one bias tape folding tip located in the housing in communication with the spindle for folding the strip of material into a bias tape having folded longitudinal edges, and a heated pressing assembly disposed in the housing for receiving the bias tape and setting the folded longitudinal edges of the bias tape. 
         [0015]    The present invention further provides for a method of making a folded bias strip including the steps of providing a bias tape making device, the bias tape making device including a housing, a spindle rotatably disposed in the housing for supporting a strip of material, at least one bias tape folding tip located in the housing in communication with the spindle and a heated pressing assembly disposed in the housing for receiving the bias tape. The length of fabric strip is wrapped on the spindle and the fabric strip is passed through the bias tape folding tip. The tip folds the strip of material into a bias tape having folded longitudinal edges. Thereafter, the folded bias tape is passed through the heated pressing assembly and the folded longitudinal edges of the bias tape are pressed. 
         [0016]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment relative to the accompanied drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the bias tape maker device of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the bias tape device of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fabric spindle of the bias tape device of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the guide arm of bias tape device of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an insert of the bias tip device of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the fabric folding tip of the bias tape maker of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the inner core of the folding tip of the bias tape maker of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the clamp of the folding tip of the bias tape maker of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the fabric folding tip taken along line II-II of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view the bias tape maker of the present invention with the middle cover removed. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective underside view of the upper pressing assembly part of the bias tape maker of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the upper heating assembly of  FIG. 11  without the cover. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the main housing components of the bias tape maker of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view underside view of the upper and lower heating plates of the bias tape maker of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the fabric strip as it passes into the pressing assembly. 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the fabric strip as it passes through the pressing assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a bias tape maker device  10  of the present invention includes a main housing  12 , middle cover  14  and an upper cover  16 . Upper cover  16  is movably connected to main housing  12  via a pair of hinges  18 . The housings and cover can be made of a flame retardant ABS compound. 
         [0034]    A spindle  20  is located in upper cover  16 . The flat strip of fabric (not shown) is wound on spindle  20  and the spindle is placed in forks  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the spindle ends include grooves  21  that are rotatably received in forks  22 . Spindle  20  also includes a slot  19  extending axially therein. A trailing end of the fabric strip can be inserted into slot  19  to aid in wrapping the strip evenly on spindle  20 . 
         [0035]    A guide  30  is also located in cover  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , guide  30  includes an arm  32  and a support  34 . As will be described further herein, the fabric from spindle  20  is draped over guide arm  32  and inserted into a bias tape maker tip  24 . Spindle  20  includes a plurality of striations  23  spaced around the diameter of the spindle for properly positioning different sizes of fabric strips to align the same guide  30 . An end of support  34  is removably located in a post  36  of cover  16 . Guide  30  can be made of a flame retardant ABS compound. 
         [0036]    Device  10  is portable and when not in use spindle  20  and guide  30  can be removed and placed within shaped slots of an insert  28  ( FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , an L-shaped slot  38  is provided to accommodate guide  30 . A second slot  39  is capable of receiving spindle  20 . When spindle  20  and guide  30  are stored within insert  28  the housing can be closed by cover  16 . Referring again to  FIG. 2 , cover  16  includes a latch  17  that corresponds with a notch  13  located on main housing  12  to lock cover  16  in place on the housing. 
         [0037]    The bias tape folding tip  24  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 6-9 . Tip  24  folds the strip of flat fabric into a single fold bias tape. Tip  24  includes an outer shell  44  and an inner core  46  that is inserted into outer shell  44 . Both outer shell  44  and inner core  46  ( FIG. 7 ) are tapered from their respective back to front ends. 
         [0038]    Clamp  48  is connected to inner core  46  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Clamp  48  has a tab  47  that extends below the tip and is received within a slot (not shown) and snapped in place in middle cover  14 . Tab  47  is a spring mechanism that allows the entire tip  24  to be disengaged from the device  10  when pressed by a user. In that manner, device  10  can be used with multiple sized tips to accommodate multiple sizes of fabric and fold multiple sizes of single fold bias tape. A user can change the tip based on the finished size of bias tape needed. For example, sizes of tips that can be used with the device of the present invention can be ⅛, ¼, ½, ¾, 1, and 1¼ inch. Additionally, a tip can be provided that folds a 2¼″ in half to only a 1⅛″ bias tape and/or a tip that folds a 2½″ strip in half to only a 1¼″ tape. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to these size tips, but can accommodate other sizes as well. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , in use a lead edge of a fabric  50 , shown in dashed line, is placed on top of guide  30  and inserted into tip  24  from the rear end  43  ( FIG. 6 ) thereof between outer shell  44 , inner core  46  and clamp  48 . As fabric strip  50  is advanced the strip is folded along its edges to form the single fold bias tape and the folded strip is pulled from the front end  45  ( FIG. 6 ) of the tip. 
         [0040]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , bias tape maker  10  includes a heated pressing assembly  60  located in main housing  12  downstream of tip  24 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , pressing assembly  60  includes a removable upper housing  62  and an upper roller case  64 . Located in upper roller case  64  is an upper roller  66  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Upper roller  64  corresponds with lower roller  68  ( FIG. 10 ) to pull the folded bias tape through the pressing assembly as will be described further herein. Rollers  64 , 68  can be made of steel &amp; silicone. 
         [0041]    Upper housing  62  includes an upper spring-loaded plate  70  as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Plate  70  is biased downwardly by springs  72  to supply the appropriate pressure to the folded bias tape as is passes thereunder. Plate  70  can be made of a ceramic for heat dispersion. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a stationary plate  74  is located in main housing  12  directly beneath spring-loaded plate  72 . Plate  74  can be made of a Teflon® coated iron or other material. Plate  74  is coated to allow the folded bias strip to pass smoothly between it and upper spring-loaded plate  72 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , a heating block  76  is located beneath plate  74 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , a heating control unit  78  ( FIG. 13 ) communicates with heating block  76  to control and monitor the heating of block  76  and plate  74 . A temperature dial  80  can be set for different types of fabric to regulate heat control accordingly. When the device has reached the desired temperature a light  84  ( FIG. 2 ) on the main housing will glow to indicate that the device is ready. Control unit  78  also includes an automatic shut-off feature should the device be inactive for more than 10 minutes. For safety reasons, the fabric should be threaded through the tip and rollers prior to the temperature dial being turned on. 
         [0044]    In addition to temperature dial  80 , a power switch  82 , a reset button  86  and a run button  88  are provided in main housing  12 . Power switch  82  communicates with a transformer  90  and motor and gear box unit  92  for driving lower roller  68 . The temperature control and machine operation work independently. After light  84  indicates that the heating block  76  is ready, run button  88  is pressed to start the rollers. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , in operation, the strip of material  50 , shown in dashed lines, is wrapped around spindle  20  with the finish side up and center to tip  24 . The spindle is placed in upper cover  16 . the leading edge of strip  50 , is inserted into tip  24 . A mechanism (not shown) is provided to advance the edge of the strip through tip  24  such that the strip is folded along both sides to form a single fold bias tape. Upper housing  60  of the heating assembly is removed and the leading edge of the folded tape is pulled across plate  74  and the rollers. When powered the rollers advance the folded strip and heated assembly  60  presses folds  102  along either side of the finished single fold bias tape  100 . The device can fold and press the single fold bias tape with a continuous feed at approximately 15 Fe/min. 
         [0046]    The device is designed for universal electronic sources and is UL approved for the United States and Australia. An outlet  52  ( FIG. 1 ) is provided in main housing  12  for access to a power cord and electronic source. 
         [0047]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.