IP Library Granted Patent US 11,299,832
Granted Patent B2
US 11,299,832 · App. 16/794,181 · Granted Apr 12, 2022

Anti-ozone treatment of base templates in laser finishing

Inventors: Sachith Devendra Samarasinghe (Ragama, LK); Chatura Atukorala (Veyangoda, LK); James Barton Sights (San Francisco, CA); David Love (Tiburon, CA); Elizabeth O'Neill (Tiburon, CA); Jeff Zens (Emeryville, CA); Benjamin Bell (San Francisco, CA); Jennifer Schultz (Cambridge, MA); Christopher Schultz (Cambridge, MA); Debdulal Mahanty (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Levi Strauss & Co.
D06B3/10D06B9/04D06M10/005D06M10/04D06M10/08D06P5/04D06P1/228
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,299,832
App. No.
16/794,181
Granted
Apr 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Indigo-dyed garments are treated with an anti-ozone agent to prevent ozone-related degradation of the garments before laser finishing. Without treatment, the garments can exhibit color loss (e.g., color change or fading) from exposure to ozone in the atmosphere. The indigo-dyed garments with anti-ozone treatment can serve as base templates in a laser finishing process flow. The anti-ozone treatment of the base templates can include a rinse including an ascorbic acid or vitamin C constituent during a base preparation process. Then quantities of these base templates can manufactured and stored for periods of time without exhibiting ozone-related degradation effects.

Claims (59)

1. A system comprising:

a garment template that has been treated with at least one of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate as an anti-ozone treatment, and after being treated with the ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate, the garment template consisting of only the ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate remaining in the garment template sufficient to prevent yellowing of the garment template due to exposure to ozone, wherein the garment template is an assembled garment made from fabric panels of a woven first material comprising a warp yarn comprising indigo-dyed cotton yarn, and the fabric panels are sewn together using thread;

a digital design tool, generating at least a first laser file including a finishing pattern, wherein the digital design tool generates a photorealistic visualization of a finishing pattern of a garment after postlaser wash on a computer screen and allows editing of the finishing pattern,

the editing permitted by the digital design tool comprises selecting a first combination of a garment template and a first wear pattern, and saving the first combination as the first finishing pattern, and

a photorealistic visualization of the first combination comprises displaying on a computer screen the garment template and the first wear pattern as a garment of a first combination would appear after postlaser wash,

the editing permitted by the digital design tool comprises selecting a second combination of the garment template, a first wear pattern, and a first tint color, and saving the second combination as a second finishing pattern, and

a photorealistic visualization of the second combination comprises displaying on a computer screen the garment template and the first wear pattern along with the first tint color as a garment of the second combination would appear after postlaser wash;

a laser finishing machine, receiving as input at least a portion of a finishing pattern that is generated by the digital design tool,

when the garment template, after being treated with at least one of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate as an anti-ozone treatment and only the ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate remains in the garment template, is used as a target garment for a laser head of the laser finishing machine and the first finishing pattern from the digital design tool controls operation of the laser head, the laser finishing machine burns a wear pattern from the first finishing pattern on the target garment, which after the laser finishing machine burn and then a wash results in the target garment becoming a first garment product, and

when the garment template, after being treated with at least one of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate as an anti-ozone treatment and only the ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate remains in the garment template, is used as a target garment for a laser head of the laser finishing machine and the second finishing pattern from the digital design tool controls operation of the laser head, the laser finishing machine burns a wear pattern from the first finishing pattern on the target garment, which after the laser finishing machine burn and then a wash with a tint color, corresponding the first tint color selected via the digital design tool, results in the target garment becoming a second garment product;

the first garment product, identifiable by a first product code identifier; and

the second garment product, identifiable by a second product code identifier, wherein the second product code identifier is different from the first product code identifier, and the second garment product comprises a tint color that distinguishes an appearance of the second garment product from the first garment product.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 1.5 to about 2.0 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 2.0 to about 2.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 2.5 to about 3.0 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 3.0 to about 3.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 2.0 to about 4.0 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 1.5 to about 2.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital design tool generates a three-dimensional photorealistic visualization,

the three-dimensional photorealistic visualization of the first combination includes displaying on a computer screen a three-dimensional rendering of the garment template and the first wear pattern as a garment of a first combination would appear after postlaser wash, and

the three-dimensional photorealistic visualization of the first combination includes displaying on a computer screen a three-dimensional rendering the garment template and the first wear pattern along with the first tint color as a garment of the second combination would appear after postlaser wash.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution consisting essentially of about 1.5 to about 2.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution consisting of about 1.5 to about 2.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

11. A system comprising:

a garment template that has been treated with an antioxidant constituent consisting of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate as an anti-ozone treatment, wherein only the ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate remains in the garment template sufficient to prevent yellowing of the garment template due to exposure to ozone, the garment template is an assembled garment made from fabric panels of a woven first material comprising a warp yarn comprising indigo-dyed cotton yarn, and the fabric panels are sewn together using thread;

a digital design tool, generating at least a first laser file including a finishing pattern, wherein the digital design tool generates a photorealistic visualization of a finishing pattern of a garment after postlaser wash on a computer screen and allows editing of the finishing pattern,

the editing permitted by the digital design tool comprises selecting a first combination of a garment template and a first wear pattern, and saving the first combination as the first finishing pattern, and

a photorealistic visualization of the first combination comprises displaying on a computer screen the garment template and the first wear pattern as a garment of a first combination would appear after postlaser wash,

the editing permitted by the digital design tool comprises selecting a second combination of the garment template, a first wear pattern, and at least one damage asset, and saving the second combination as a second finishing pattern, and

a photorealistic visualization of the second combination comprises displaying on a computer screen the garment template and the first wear pattern along with the at least one damage asset as a garment of the second combination would appear after postlaser wash, and the at least one damage asset comprises a shredded appearance in the photorealistic visualization of the third combination;

a laser finishing machine, receiving as input at least a portion of a finishing pattern that is generated by the digital design tool,

when the garment template, after being treated with at least one of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate as an anti-ozone treatment and only the ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate remains in the garment template, is used as a target garment for a laser head of the laser finishing machine and the first finishing pattern from the digital design tool controls operation of the laser head, the laser finishing machine burns a wear pattern from the first finishing pattern on the target garment, which after the laser finishing machine burn and then a wash results in the target garment becoming a first garment product, and

when the garment template, after being treated with at least one of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate as an anti-ozone treatment and only the ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate remains in the garment template, is used as a target garment for a laser head of the laser finishing machine and the second finishing pattern from the digital design tool controls operation of the laser head, the laser finishing machine burns a wear pattern from the first finishing pattern and the at least one damage asset on the target garment, which after the laser finishing machine burn and then a wash results in the target garment becoming a second garment product;

the first garment product, identifiable by a first product code identifier; and

the second garment product, identifiable by a second product code identifier, wherein the second product code identifier is different from the first product code identifier, and the second garment product comprises the at least one damage asset that distinguishes an appearance of the second garment product from the first garment product.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 1.5 to about 2.0 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 2.0 to about 2.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 2.5 to about 3.0 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 3.0 to about 3.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 2.0 to about 4.0 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the garment template was treated by rinsing in an aqueous solution comprising about 1.5 to about 2.5 grams per liter of ascorbic acid.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the digital design tool generates a three-dimensional photorealistic visualization,

the three-dimensional photorealistic visualization of the first combination includes displaying on a computer screen a three-dimensional rendering of the garment template and the first wear pattern as a garment of a first combination would appear after postlaser wash, and

the three-dimensional photorealistic visualization of the first combination includes displaying on a computer screen a three-dimensional rendering of the garment template and the first wear pattern along with the at least one damage asset as a garment of the second combination would appear after postlaser wash, and the at least one damage asset comprises a shredded appearance in the photorealistic visualization of the third combination.

19. A system comprising:

a garment template that has been treated with an antioxidant constituent as an anti-ozone treatment, and the garment template consisting of the antioxidant constituent only remaining in the garment template sufficient to prevent yellowing of the garment template due to exposure to ozone, wherein the garment template is an assembled garment made from fabric panels of a woven first material comprising a warp yarn comprising indigo-dyed cotton yarn, and the fabric panels are sewn together using thread;

a digital design tool, generating at least a first laser file including a finishing pattern, wherein the digital design tool generates a photorealistic visualization of a finishing pattern of a garment after postlaser wash on a computer screen and allows editing of the finishing pattern,

the editing permitted by the digital design tool comprises selecting a first combination of a garment template and a first wear pattern, and saving the first combination as the first finishing pattern, and

a photorealistic visualization of the first combination comprises displaying on a computer screen the garment template and the first wear pattern as a garment of a first combination would appear after postlaser wash;

a laser finishing machine, receiving as input at least a portion of a finishing pattern that is generated by the digital design tool, and

when the garment template, after being treated with the antioxidant constituent as an anti-ozone treatment, is used as a target garment for a laser head of the laser finishing machine and the first finishing pattern from the digital design tool controls operation of the laser head, the laser finishing machine burns a wear pattern from the first finishing pattern on the target garment, which after the laser finishing machine burn and then a wash results in the target garment becoming a first garment product;

the first garment product, identifiable by a first product code identifier.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the editing permitted by the digital design tool comprises selecting a second combination of the garment template, a first wear pattern, and a first tint color, and saving the second combination as a second finishing pattern, and

a photorealistic visualization of the second combination comprises displaying on a computer screen the garment template and the first wear pattern along with the first tint color as a garment of the second combination would appear after postlaser wash.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein when the garment template, after being treated with the antioxidant constituent as an anti-ozone treatment, is used as a target garment for a laser head of the laser finishing machine and the second finishing pattern from the digital design tool controls operation of the laser head, the laser finishing machine burns a wear pattern from the first finishing pattern on the target garment, which after the laser finishing machine burn and then a wash with a tint color, corresponding the first tint color selected via the digital design tool, results in the target garment becoming a second garment product.

22. The system of claim 21 comprising:

the second garment product, identifiable by a second product code identifier, wherein the second product code identifier is different from the first product code identifier, and the second garment product comprises a tint color that distinguishes an appearance of the second garment product from the first garment product.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the antioxidant constituent comprises at least one of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the antioxidant constituent comprises at least one of sodium bisulfate or ethylene diamine.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 069335/0647 Recorded Jun 9, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
Reel/Frame 071512/0857 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 069335/0647 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2023
From: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 062334/0268 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2022
From: SAMARASINGHE, SACHITH DEVENDRA; ATUKORALA, CHATURA; SIGHTS, JAMES BARTON; O'NEILL, ELIZABETH; BELL, BENJAMIN; SCHULTZ, JENNIFER; SCHULTZ, CHRISTOPHER; MAHANTY, DEBDULAL
To: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
Reel/Frame 059864/0687 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62806713 · Feb 15, 2019
Related Publication 20200263337A1 · Aug 20, 2020