Thread

Abstract

A stiffening thread for use in increasing the durability of a crease in a panel of fabric comprises at least one ply of thermofusible material having a melting point between 75° C. and 125° C. and at least one carrier ply of material which is not thermofusible, having a melting point above 125° C., wherein the at least one thermofusible ply is a monofilament thermofusible ply.

1 . A stiffening thread for use in increasing the durability of a crease in a panel of fabric, the thread comprising at least one ply of thermofusible material having a melting point between 75° C. and 125° C. and at least one carrier ply of material which is not thermofusible, having a melting point above 125° C., the thread further comprising at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
 a) the at least one thermofusible ply is a monofilament thermofusible ply 
 b) the thread is of wrapped construction with the carrier ply providing a core and the thermofusible ply being wrapped around the carrier ply 
 c) the carrier ply is of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and is soluble in water at temperatures of above 40° C. 
 d) the thread is of braided construction. 
 
     
     
         2 . A thread according to  claim 1  comprising at least two thermofusible plies. 
     
     
         3 . A thread according to  claim 1  wherein the melting point the thermofusible material is between 80° C. and 125° C. 
     
     
         4 . A thread according to claim wherein the melting point of the thermofusible material is 85° C. 
     
     
         5 . A thread according to  claim 3  wherein the melting point of the thermofusible material is 110° C. 
     
     
         6 . A thread according to  claim 1  wherein each thermofusible ply has a grist of between 100 and 600 Denier. 
     
     
         7 . A thread according to  claim 1  wherein each carrier ply has grist of between 75 and 400 Denier. 
     
     
         8 . A thread according to  claim 1  having a carrier ply of grist between 220 and 280 Denier and a thermofusible ply of between 400 and 500 Denier. 
     
     
         9 . A thread according to  claim 1  wherein the thermofusible ply is of monofilament construction. 
     
     
         10 . A thread according to  claim 1  wherein the thread is of braided construction. 
     
     
         11 . A thread according to  claim 1  wherein the thread is of wrapped construction with the carrier ply providing a core and the thermofusible ply being wrapped around the carrier ply. 
     
     
         12 . A thread according to  claim 1  wherein the carrier ply is of PVA and is soluble in water at temperatures of above 40° C. A thread according to  2  wherein the PVA is soluble in water at temperatures above 30° C.