IP Library Granted Patent US 7,191,720
Granted Patent B2
US 7,191,720 · App. 10/357,121 · Granted Mar 20, 2007

Method of manufacture for stitchless garment

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,191,720
App. No.
10/357,121
Granted
Mar 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stitchless garment and a method of making the stitchless garment are provided. The method is used in connection with manufacturing a circular knit garment using a first garment component and a second garment component. The method includes the steps of providing the first garment component and providing the second garment component so that the second garment component overlaps the first garment component to define a connection. A bonding tape is provided at the connection. Heat is applied to the first garment component and the second garment component. The method also includes the step of applying pressure to the bonding tape to adhere the first garment component to the second garment component to provide a stitchless garment.

Claims (33)

1. A method of seamlessly manufacturing a circular knit garment between a first garment component and a second garment component comprising the steps of:

laying the second garment component over a portion of the first garment component to define a connection;

providing a bonding tape at said connection;

heating the first and the second garment components;

applying heat and pressure to said bonding tape to adhere the first garment component to the second garment component to provide a stitchless garment,

wherein said bonding tape has an elastic component, and wherein said bonding tape has at least two layers of adhesive with each positioned on a different side of said elastic component.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least two layers of adhesive is made of a thermal adhesive.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said elastic component is made of a polyurethane.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said bonding tape further comprises an elastic component disposed between at least two adhesive layers, said elastic component being selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, nylon, spandex, and any combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said at least two adhesive layers is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, polyamide, olefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, and any combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying heat and pressure is accomplished by ironing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first garment component and the second garment component are made of a material selected from the group consisting of a textured nylon, a nylon, a spandex, polyester, and any combinations thereof.

8. A method of manufacturing a stitchless article comprising:

circular knitting a first series of courses to form a first tubular structure having opposite lateral sides each with armhole;

circular knitting a second series of courses to form a second structure;

feeding a bonding tape between said first and second structures;

heating said bonding tape to adhere said first and second structures together to form the stitchless article.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said first tubular structure has a first edge and a second edge, wherein the method further comprises the steps of feeding said bonding tape between said first edge and said second edge on opposite sides of a neck hole of said second structure, and heating said first edge, said second edge and said bonding tape such that said bonding tape adheres said first edge and said second edge together to form said neck hole of said second structure.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of heating said bonding tape is performed by a heated foot and a heated plate disposed on opposite sides of said bonding tape.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said second structure is a torso-encircling garment.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said bonding tape has at least two layers of adhesive with each positioned on a different side of said elastic component.

13. A garment comprising:

a first garment component;

a second garment component;

a bonding tape having an intermediate layer and at least two layers of adhesive, with each adhesive layer disposed on a different side of said intermediate layer, said bonding tape being disposed between said first garment component and said second garment component, wherein said first garment component is joined to said second garment component by heating said one or more layers of adhesive so that neither of said first and second garment components have a fold where joined together.

14. The garment of claim 13 , wherein said at least two layers of adhesive is made of a thermal adhesive.

15. The garment of claim 14 , wherein said at least two adhesive layers are selected from a material selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, polyamide, olefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, and any combinations thereof.

16. A garment comprising:

a first garment component;

a second garment component:

a bonding tape having an intermediate layer and at least two layers of adhesive, with each adhesive layer disposed on a different side of said intermediate layer, said bonding tape being disposed between said first garment component and said second garment component, wherein said first garment component is joined to said second garment component by heating said one or more layers of adhesive so that said first and second garment components do not have a fold where joined together, wherein said intermediate layer has an elastic component.

17. The garment of claim 16 , wherein said elastic component is made of polyurethane.

18. The garment of claim 16 , wherein said elastic component is a material selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, nylon, spandex, and any combinations thereof.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 59910/0685 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074165/0634 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 45029/0132 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074166/0114 →
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 9, 2022
From: HANESBRANDS INC.; ALTERNATIVE APPAREL, INC.; BA INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; CC PRODUCTS LLC; CEIBENA DEL, INC.; EVENT 1 LLC; GEARCO LLC; GFSI HOLDINGS LLC; GFSI LLC; GTM RETAIL, INC.; HANES GLOBAL HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; HANES JIBOA HOLDINGS, LLC; HANES MENSWEAR, LLC; HANESBRANDS DIRECT, LLC; HANESBRANDS EXPORT CANADA LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES LLC; HBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS U.S., INC.; HBI SOURCING, LLC; INNER SELF LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; KNIGHTS APPAREL, LLC; KNIGHTS HOLDCO, LLC; MAIDENFORM (BANGLADESH) LLC; MAIDENFORM (INDONESIA) LLC; MAIDENFORM BRANDS LLC; MAIDENFORM INTERNATIONAL LLC; MAIDENFORM LLC; MF RETAIL LLC; PLAYTEX DORADO, LLC; PLAYTEX INDUSTRIES, INC.; SEAMLESS TEXTILES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059910/0685 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2018
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; MAIDENFORM LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045029/0132 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2009
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 023649/0812 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAMES 018367/0353, 018367/0312, AND 018545/0521 Recorded Dec 10, 2009
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 023627/0842 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0333 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0353 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2006
From: SARA LEE CORPORATION
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 018279/0527 →