Resin for use in Setting a Crease in a Garment

Abstract

The invention to which this application relates is to the provision of a resin material of a type which can be applied to a garment crease line in a fluid condition and, once exposed to a suitable environment, will then cure so as to harden and adhere along the crease line. The resin in accordance with the invention is free from tin or any organo-tin components whilst still maintaining the ability for the resin to cure and be effective. The resin, once cured assists in prolonging the form of the crease in the garment. The material may be applied at the time of preparation of the new garment or, may be applied after the garment has been washed.

1 . A garment including an elongate crease line therein, said crease line including a base, and having an external surface which forms part of the external surface of the garment when worn, and an internal surface and a resin to have the effect of assisting in the retention of the crease line in the garment for a prolonged period of time is applied in a fluid condition onto and along said internal face of the crease line along said base and, once applied along the crease line, the resin hardens and is attached in position along the base of the crease line and wherein the resin includes substantially no tin and organo-tin therein. 
     
     
         2 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the resin includes a curing agent in the form of an acetate. 
     
     
         3 . A garment according to  claim 2  wherein the resin acetate curing agent is a crosslinking acetate. 
     
     
         4 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the resin includes any, or any combination of amorphous silicate hydrate, methylsilanetriyl-triacetate, diacetoxydi-tert-butoxysilane, hexanoic acid, dodecamethyl cyclohexasiloxane, acetic acid and/or octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, bismuth tris(2-ethylhexanoate), triacetoxyethylsilane, octamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane, PBT and/or substances including dodecamethylcyclohexasilosane, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. 
     
     
         5 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the resin is substantially free from any tin derivative materials. 
     
     
         6 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the crease line is provided on a leg of a pair of trousers or an arm of a shirt. 
     
     
         7 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the garment includes a plurality of crease lines and the said resin is applied to at least a plurality of said crease lines. 
     
     
         8 . A method of prolonging the retention of a crease line formed on a garment, said method including the steps of placing the garment on a support including a V-shaped or gull-wing shaped groove therealong, placing the said crease line along said groove so that a surface of the garment which is to be the external surface of the same when worn contacts the support and the opposing surface of the garment which is to be the internal surface of the garment when worn, is exposed and the base of the crease line lies along the base of the groove, providing a supply of a fluid resin material to a dispensing means having an exit aperture for the controlled movement of the fluid resin therethrough and guiding the relative movement of the exit aperture and the said crease line such that the fluid resin is applied from the exit aperture along the base of the crease line as a ribbon or line of fluid resin onto the said internal surface of the garment and partially into the garment, causing or allowing the resin to cure and harden and attach to the garment along the base of the crease line and wherein the resin includes substantially no tin and organo-tin therein. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the resin changes from the first, fluid form to the second, substantially hardened form as a result of the activation of a curing agent contained within the resin. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the activation of the curing agent occurs after a period of time during which the resin is exposed to moisture in the ambient environment in which the same is dispensed onto said crease line base. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the curing of the resin occurs or is encouraged by exposure to and/or application of a specific property to the garment and the resin applied along said crease line. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the specific property is any, or any combination of, heat and/or ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for use in applying a ribbon or line of a resin onto a crease line of a garment so as to prolong the retention of said crease line in the garment, said apparatus including;
 a support including a V-shaped or gull-wing shaped groove therealong, for the receipt of said crease line along said groove so that a surface of the garment which is to be the external surface of the same when worn contacts the support and the opposing surface of the garment which is to be the internal surface of the garment when worn, is exposed and the base of the crease line lies along the base of the groove,   a supply of the resin in a fluid condition to a dispensing means having an exit aperture and a means to cause controlled movement of the fluid resin through the exit aperture;   guide means to guide the relative movement of the exit aperture and the said crease line and support such that the fluid resin is applied from the exit aperture along the base of the crease line as said ribbon or line of fluid resin onto the said internal surface of the garment and partially into the garment, causing or allowing the resin to cure and harden and attach to the garment along the base of the crease line and wherein the resin held in the said reservoir and passed through the said exit aperture includes substantially no tin and organo-tin therein.   
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the said reservoir of the fluid material is provided in a cartridge in which the said means to cause controlled movement and the exit aperture are provided. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein said guide means are provided as part of the cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . A resin for use on the garment according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A resin for used in the method according to  claim 8 .