Patent ID: 7407377

Claim:
An apparatus for pleating an article, comprising: at least one stationary member; at least one rotatable member which is moveable in relation to the stationary member; a plurality of segments, each having a predetermined shape with a proximal end and a distal end, each segment having a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, one said point being pivotally coupled to the stationary member and one said point being pivotally coupled to the rotatable member; the segments being arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point, and that the segment centerlines extending therefrom toward the segment distal ends are oriented away from the central point; and the segment distal ends moving closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable member in a predetermined direction, the segment distal ends defining a central aperture having at least three channels extending away from the center thereof, the channels having a predetermined geometry defining the pleats.