US3372403A - Durable press garments and method for altering hems and cuffs - Google Patents

Description

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NELSON E GETCH ELL ATTORNEYS.

March 12, 1968 N. F. GETCHELL DURABLE PRESS GARMENTS AND METHOD FOR ALTERING HEMS AND CUFFS Filed April 25, 1965 FIG.2

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BY 6M, j w m United States Patent F 3,372,493 DURABLE PRESS GARMENTS AND METHOD FOR ALTERING HEMS AND CUFFS Nelson F. Getchell, Great Falls, Va, assignor t0 Cotton Producers Institute, Memphis, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed Apr. 23, 1%5, Ser. No. 450,382 Claims. (Cl. 2-269) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of making a garment which may subsequently be altered, such as a pair of trousers, from a cellulose fiber-containing fabric having a latent creaseproofing agent therein. The agent is cured on the finished garment except for a selected portion of the garment, such as the terminal portion of trouser legs. By maintaining the creaseproofing agent in a latent condition on the selected portion, such as by shielding that portion while the rest of the agent on the garment is cured, one or more pleats, folds, creases, or the like can be subsequently formed in the selected portion, such as cuffs on trouser legs, and the creaseproofing agent therein cured to impart a durable crease to all folds.

This invention relates to garments formed of cellulosecontaining material and treated with chemical agents, which agents, when cured thereon, impart to said garments wrinkle-resistant, crease-retentive, and wash/wear properties, and, more particularly, the invention relates to an improved method whereby such garments having such chemical agents cured thereon can be readily altered.

In recent years, the use of textiles consisting of or containing cellulosic fibers, such as cotton, regenerated cellulose (rayon), and blends of cotton and/or rayon with other natural and synthetic fibers, has become more widespread due to the several processes which have been developed for imparting suitably permanent, wrinkle-resistant, crease-retentive and wash/wear properties to these materials, which properties survive the normal laundering or dry cleaning to which the garments are subjected. Among other uses, such treated cellulosic materials are employed in the manufacture of garments including jackets, skirts, and trousers.

While desirable pleats and creases placed in untreated cotton, rayon, and textile blends containing the same are not durable and are largely lost when the garment is either laundered or subjected to rain or even to very humid conditions, cellulosic textiles which have been treated with any one of the many known resin and nonresin creaseproofing agents retain all creases which have been formed in the material prior to the curing of the agent thereon. Furthermore, while garments made of untreated cellulosic materials are readily susceptible to wrinkling during use, garments made from treated materials when laundered and then hung to dry, not only retain any crease formed therein prior to curing of the chemical agent, but also dry to a substantially wrinklefree state and, in use, are not susceptible to wrinkling.

Unfortunately, there are serious manufacturing disadvantages to the presently known processes for treating cellulosic textiles or fabrics with known creaseproofing agents, either resin or non-resin, and forming garments from these fabrics. In one process, the fabrics are first treated with a creaseproofing agent and the agent is cured thereon while the fabric is in the fiat state to impart the desired wrinkle-resisting wash/Wear properties to the fabric. However, the fabric, when manufactured into a garment, because it was cured in the flat state, naturally 3,372, 23 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 resists the formation of durable pleats and/or creases therein.

For some purposes, it is possible to locally apply a chem1cal agent to a portion of a garment formed from such a treated fabric, which agent breaks the crosslinkages between the creaseproofing agent and the cellulose molecules. Upon subsequently forming a crease along this portion of the garment and subjecting the crease to conditions which permit recuring of the cross-linking agent to take place, the crease becomes substantially permanent. Many manufacturers are reluctant to so process the garment because of the added costs involved in obtaining satisfactory results.

In another process, an untreated fabric is first manufactured into a garment and the garment is subsequently treated with the creaseproofing agent which is cured thereon after the desired pleats and/ or creases are first formed in the garment. Such a process again places the burden on the garment manufacturers to install the necessary equipment for treating the garments and many are reluctant to do so. Again, it is difficult if not impossible to alter such garments after the creases and pleats have been formed therein and the creaseproofing agent cured thereon.

Recently another method of forming wrinkle-resistant cellulose fiber-containing garments with permanent creases and pleats has become commercially available. A garment, such as a mans suit, is first formed from cellulosecontaining textile material having a chemical creaseproofing agent thereon, which agent is in the latent or uncured state. The formed garment, still containing the uncured agent, has all of the desired creases and pleats placed therein and is then subjected to a temperature sufiicient to cure the agent, i.e., the agent reacts with the cellulose molecules and forms crosslinks therewith or, depending upon the agent, polymerization may occur and the polymer becomes attached to the cellulose molecules. If necessary, a catalyst for assisting in the curing or the reaction of the resin may also be present on the textile material. Upon completion of the curing step, the pleats and creases are rendered substantially permanent and the garment has wrinkle-resisting and wash-wear properties imparted thereto. A known process for reacting or curing the latent creaseproofing agent utilizes a large oven into which the garment is placed and held at the desired temperature for the necessary period of time.

Still another apparatus useful in practicing the foregoing process is a machine press in which a portion of the garment is placed, the pleats and creases formed, and the garment then pressed at a temperature sufficient to cure the creaseproofing agent and impart durable shape-retention to the pressed area. This process is repeated until the entire garment has been pressed and treated. Use of higher press temperature for shorter periods of time enables a manufacturer more quickly to process a garment. Small manufacturers who dont have a volume output which justifies having a curing oven operating on a continuous basis are more likely to use a press for treating the garments.

Such presses are also useful in forming pleats and creases in garments made from fabrics which have been previously cured but which still have additional acid catalyst therein. As the garment is moistened with steam in the press, the catalyst assists in breaking the formed bonds between the creaseproofing agent and the cellulose fibers and then, upon removal of the moisture, reforming them to maintain the new creases and pleats in the garment.

The principal disadvantage of some of the known processes is that once a garment has been made and the creaseproofing or wrinkle-resistant agent is cured thereon or reacted therewith, it is extremely difficult to alter the garment, since the formed creases and pleats cannot be readily removed, and new creases or pleats cannot be readily formed. While this problem exists in lengthening or shortening sleeves of a jacket, altering the hem of a skirt, and the like, it will be discussed in terms of cufiing the legs of mens trousers.

Most better grade slacks and all suit trousers, irrespective of the fabric from which they are made, are shipped by garment manufacturers to retail outlets without cuffs or with temporary cuffs. This enables the retail outlet to carry a smaller inventory than would otherwise be possible, since it is only necessary for the retailer to stock trousers whose size is governed by the dimension of the waist. If trousers were formed with permanent and nonalterable cuffs by the manufacturer, the retailer would have to include several pairs of trousers with varying leg lengths in each waist size, and it is readily apparent that the size of the inventory required for such cuffed trousers would be almost prohibitive for small retailers.

In the usual retail sale, the purchaser is measured by the store tailor for the correct trouser length, and the cuffs are subsequently formed. However, cellulose fibercontaining trousers that have crease-proofing agents cured thereon have durable wrinkle-resistant and crease-retaining properties. Any effort by the tailor to impart additional durable creases to the top and bottom or front and back folded peripheral edges of the cuff will be resisted by the treated fabric, which retains creases and prevents new creases even when subjected to pressing conditions. Thus any additional creases which may be formed in the cuffs by the tailor during the alteration are at best temporary and will not appear as sharp as the longitudinal creases imparted to the trouser legs by the manufacturer. Furthermore, as soon as the cuffs are subjected to rain, snow, high humidity, or laundering, the pressed-in creases formed therein will largely disappear. Thus, purchasers of treated, wrinkle-resistant cotton trousers find it difficult, if not impossible, to have durable creases on the cuffs which match the durable longitudinal creases formed by the manufacturing process on the trouser legs.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to overcome the difficulties presently existing with regard to the alteration of cellulose fiber-containing garments which have been previously treated with known creaseproofing agents and the agents cured thereon.

It is another object of this invention to provide for the formation of durable creases, pleats, herns and the like in garments having known creaseproofing agents cured thereon and after such garments have been altered to the measurements of the customers.

In attaining the objects of the invention, one feature resides in forming a garment from a cellulose fiber-containing textile having a latent creaseproofing agent thereon, imparting the desired creases, pleats and the like to the garment, and subsequently curing the agent thereon except in those portions of the garment where subsequent alterations are to be made.

Another feature of this invention is to form a garment, such as a skirt, trousers, jacket and the like, from a cellulose fiber-containing fabric having a latent curing creaseproofing agent thereon, shielding a portion of the garment from the treatment conditions to which the remainder of the garment is then subjected in order to cure the agent thereon, subsequently cufflng, hemming or otherwise altering that shielded portion of the garment and then curing the latent creaseproofing agent thereon to impart durable creases, pleats and/or other shape-retaining properties to the previously shielded portion of the garment.

ther objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a garment having a latent crease-proofing agent thereon;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the garment of FIG. 1 showing the cuff subsequently formed therein;

FIG. 3 illustrates a pressing-curing machine illustrating one mode of shielding a portion of the garment from conditions which will cure the crease-proofing agent on the remainder of the garment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of a pressingwring machine showing an alternative method of shielding the garment end from the curing conditions for the remainder of the garment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of a pressingwring machine showing an alternative means of delaying the chemical curing on a portion of a garment by shielding that portion from the curing conditions to which the remainder of the garment is subjected; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a curing oven for garments impregnated with a crease-proofing agent and illustrating still another means for preventing the curing of the agent on the cuff portions of trousers.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention will be described with respect to the cuffing of a trouser leg, although the same procedure is generally applicable to sleeves of jackets and blouses, to herns of dresses, and to other garments in which changes of measurement may be necessary to avoid the requirement for a retailer to stock large numbers of garments of the same type in order to be able to supply customers having different measurements. For example, ladies garments often require a turned-up hem or sleeve cuff and it is sometimes necessary to change such dimensions as length and circumference at the terminal portion which requires that a fold be relocated. In altering a cotton garment having a cured crease-proofing agent thereon, a fully formed pre-set fold or ridge line may thereafter show on the exterior of the garment, which fold or ridge line would be impossible to conceal or remove according to previous practice.

For purposes of illustration and referring to the drawing, .a trouser leg, generally shown at 1, has a front face 2 of unseamed type and a back face 3 in which seam allowances 4, 4' are joined at seam 6 to complete a generally tubular structure prior to the application of the press or finish of the garment. As manufactured, the trouser leg normally has an excessive length when alterations are contemplated and may be finished with a pinked edge as at 5. In cellulose fiber-containing trousers as here contemplated the portion above the cuff-forming portion has pre-formed durable creases 7, 7' together with full developed, shape-retentive, wash/wear characteristics. These creases and characteristics are imparted by forming the trousers from a cellulose fiber-containing fabric, such as cotton, which has been impregnated with a known crease-proofing agent, such as dihydroxy dimethylol ethylene urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde, a sulfone or the like, together with a catalyst for the agent, and the agent and catalyst remain thereon in latent form. After the desired creases and pleats are formed in the trousers, they are subjected to heat and/ or pressure sufficient to cure or react the agent and impart durable creases and pleats and other shape-retaining properties to the trousers. However, according to the present invention, the end portion of the trouser legs is left uncured by the garment manufacturer. After suitable alternations have been made, the terminal portion of the legs has been adjusted to the customers size and cuffs formed therein, a durable shape and crease is imparted to the cuffs by the retailer or purchaser by subjecting the cuffs to those conditions suitable for reacting the latent creaseproofing agent thereon.

In order that a ready-made garment of cellulosic fibers may have saleable appearance on the racks of the retail establishments, it may be preferable to provide light pressing of the termination 8, as illustrated at 9 and 9' below line 11, which line designates limits of the cured and uncured portions of the garment. Optionally, a lightly pressed temporary cuff as at 20 may be included at some suitable length for trial fitting by the salesman. In such a case, cuff 20 is formed in the uncured portion 8 and is pressed lightly in the usual manner to impart a temporary finish thereto for enhancement of display appearance without, however, curing the crease-proofing agent thereon.

Means for curing chemically-treated fabrics to impart these characteristics is well known in the art and need not be further described here. However, in FIG. 3 there is illustrated generally at a modified commercial pressing machine having a movable top member 12 and a bottom member 13 supported as at 14 on a suitable base above the working floor of the finishing plant. At 15 there is illustrated a steam pipe, or the like, by which heat is introduced in pressing members 12 and 13 in sufiicient amount and at sufficient temperature to provide completion of the chemical cross linking bonds in the material providing wrinkle-resistance, crease-retention, and other desirable characteristics to such fabrics. Generally this requires heating to a temperature such as 150 C. for a period of up to five minutes but, of course, will vary with the particular agents which are used.

For the purpose of this invention, it is important to note that the curing may be fully delayed or made partially effective merely by protecting certain portions of the garment in the press or other heating devices, including ovens, from such temperatures as would be effective to complete the curing of the latent creaseproofing agent with which the garment is impregnated. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an insert 16 may he placed in the upper member 12 and a similar insert 17 in lower member 13. Members 12 and 13 ordinarily comprise a porous padded material through which live steam may pass to produce a desired temperature. Other heating means may, of course, be employed, including electrically heated presses or a heated gas which permeates the padding material and exits through the porous surface thereof into direct contact with the fabric to be pressed or treated.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, insert 16 of non-porous, non heat conductive material is provided at one end of member 12. insert 17 in element 13 may be similarly constructed and elements 16 and 17 normally register as the upper member 12 is closed on member 13 when garment 1 is placed thereon with curing limit position 11 approximately at the inner edge of inserts 16 and 17 and the remainder of the bottom trouser leg completely disposed between the inserts and thus shielded from the heat during the pressing of the remaining garment.

Alternatively, a garment as at 1' may extend to the end of member 13' as shown in FIG. 4 such that the terminal portion 8 extends therebeyond so that limit position 11 coincides with the extremity of the member 13'. In this alternative construction of a machine-press, inserts 16 and 17 are not needed, and it becomes a simple matter to cure garment 1 to a predetermined length 11' located as may be desired to provide a sufficient portion 8 for subsequent shortening and forming of a cuff.

The curing process of the invention may also be performed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. In order to prevent a cure of the chemical agent on portion 8 of the trousers, suitable insulating materials, such as blankets, 18 and 19 underlie and overlie the garment at its lower portion 8 and prevent conductivity of heat from member 13 or the corresponding upper member thereto. Insulating blanket 18 may be of woolen material, preferably having an impervious covering to prevent gaseous transfer of heat therethrough, and of sufiicient thickness and insulating quality to prevent conductive transfer of heat from member 13' to portion 8 of the garment. A similar insulating blanket 19 overlies garment end 8 to prevent transfer of heat from the upper member thereto.

A portion of the curing may be conveniently carried on in an oven, for example, after initial pressing and partial curing in a press of all of the garment except that portion thereof which will subsequently be altered. Such an oven, as .at 21 in FIG. 6, may have a conveyor track 22 therethrough entrant at door 23 and garments at 7 may be carried by hangers 24 with end portions of the garments being covered by insulating boards 25, usually consisting of a pair of members secured to each other (by means not shown). While an impervious pad may be used for the purpose, it is also contemplated that a rigid insulating block may be employed. In each of the modifications of FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, transfer of heat sufficient to cure the crosslinking agent is effectively prevented by shielding a portion of the garment wherein subsequent alterations are to be made.

Desirably, a small amount of precuring may be accomplished to provide a finished appearance to front and back longitudinal creases by suitable adjustment of the insulating blankets 18, 19, boards 25, or pads 16, 17, to give a pressed effect on the lower portion of the trousers. The fact that the longitudinal creases 9, 9' may be precured to a certain extent will not interfere with the subsequent formation of a cuff. However, care must be taken that no appreciable curing of the latent creaseproofing agent occurs on that portion 8 of the lower trouser leg disposed between longitudinal creases 9, 9', since this will interfere with the subsequent cufliug operation. A cuff is then formed, as at 20, and the latent creaseproofing agent thereon is cured in place by pressing at a predetermined temperature for the required time, such as in a machine 10.

In this manner applicant applies to a fabric or to a garment containing cellulosic fibers a suitable chemical agent curable to form a garment of the desired characteristics, which is both wrinkle-resistant and creaseretaining, and is also suitable for wash/wear use. The entire garment is cured with the exception of an end portion 8 which is to accommodate the alteration after fitting. The end 8 may be left completely uncured and straight, as in FIG. 1, or may be turned up, as in FIG. 2, and left wholly uncured.

A pair of mens cotton trousers were made from a cotton fabric which had been treated with and thus had thereon a latent creaseproofing agent, namely, dihydroxy dimethylol ethylene urea formaldehyde and, as a catalyst therefor, zinc nitrate. The trousers were then placed in a machine press, care being taken to shield the bottom 8 inches of the trouser legs, and the trousers were pressed, thus imparting a shape thereto and forming the longitudinal creases therein. The pressed trousers with the bottom eight inches still shielded, were placed in an oven heated at 325 F. and held therein for 10 minutes. All of the creaseproofing agent on the trousers, except in the shielded portion, was cured. Cuffs were then formed in the bottom portion of the trouser legs and the cuffs were pressed at a temperature of F. for 5 minutes, thus curing the latent creaseprofing agent. After numerous launderings, the creases in the cuffs were just as durable and presented just as neat an appearance as the longitudinal creases of the garment. In practice, the retailer, after he has measured the customer for the correct trouser length, forms the cuffs and, by pressing them at the predetermined temperature for the required time, cures the agent thereon, thus making the crease as durable or permanent as the other, prior-formed creases.

Among the various and well-known creaseproofing agents which may be used in treating the fabrics and imparting crease-retaining, wrinkle-resisting, and wash/ wear characteristics to the garments made therefrom are the aldehydes, such as formaldehyde; polyacetals, which are the products of a reaction between aldehydes and polyalcohols; methylol urea precondensates, such as dimethylol urea; cyclic methylol urea compounds, such as dimethylol ethylene urea, i.e., 1,3-bis-(hydroxymethyl)- 2-imidazolidone; triazones such as 1,3-dimethylol-5-hydroxy ethylperhydrotriazone-2; methylol melamine compounds and triazines, such as are produced by reacting melamine with formaldehyde; epoxides and related compounds, such as diglycidyl ether of ethylene glycol; and tris-l-aziridinyl phosphine oxide which imparts both creaseand flame-resistance to the cellulose; dichloropropanol; and ethyl carbamate.

Also included as creaseproofing agents within the meaning of this term for the present invention, are condensation products of formaldehyde with acetone, with acrolein, with acetone and acrolein, with phenol, with diethylene glycol dicarbamate, with formamide, with hydroxyl amines, with polymerized methacryl amides, with urea and alkylene oxides and epichlorohydrin, with tetrahydroiminoprimidine, with liydrazides of monoand diearboxylic acids, with low molecular weight polyesters or polyurethane, with nitrilotripropionamide, with glyoxal and urea, with hexamethylene diamine and urea, with hexose ureides, with dicandiamide and urea, and with 2- oxo-4,5-diimino parabanic acid resins; the urons; chloromethyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols; dicarboxylic acid anhydrides and diesters; copolymers of ethylenic di-carboxylic acids with vinyl compounds; salts of poly(vinyloxyalkyl)amines; cyclopropyl quaternary ammonium compounds; silicones and resin precondensates; quaternary ammonium derivatives of silicones, and halo-silanes; bis(hydroxymethylurethane) of 1,4 butanediol; orthophosphoric acid, urea, and sodium hydroxide; diisocya nates; aldehyde ethylene imine reaction products and phosgene-ethylene imine reaction products; formyl alkyl oxetanes; divinyl sulfone, its derivatives, and vinyl sulfone-urea addition products; onium compounds; and rubber latex with chloromethyl ethers. Mixtures of any of the above may also be used.

While all of the above creaseproofing agents are known to produce the desired results on cellulosic fabrics, among the ones which are used commercially by the cotton industry to impart the desired wrinkle-resistant, shape-retaining, creaseproofing, and wash and wear properties are included dihydroxy dimethylol ethylene urea, 1,3- diemethylol 5 hydroxyethylperhydrotriazone-2, diglycidyl ether of ethylene glycol; methyl, ethyl and hydroxy ethyl carbamates; and divinyl sulfone or divinyl sulfone donors, i.e., compounds which form divinyl sulfone during the treatment of the fabric. Also included are the malamine formaldehyde precondensates.

Some of the above-listed creaseproofing agents require the presence of catalysts during the curing step, while others, such as trimethylol phenol, do not. The formaldehyde resins usually require acidic catalysts, while others, such as divinyl sulfone, require alkaline catalysts. Hence, whether a catalyst is used and whether it is acidic or basic will depend upon the particular creaseproofing agent used. Generally, the catalysts belong to the following groups: organic acids, such as meleic, acetic, tartaric. oxalic, lactic, etc.; inorganic acids, such as hydrochloric; metal salts, such as aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc, and calcium chlorides, zinc nitrate, zinc fluoroborate and the like; ammonium salts, such as ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, etc.; organic amine salts such as the hydrochloride salts; alkali hydroxides and carbonates; as well as many others which will readily come to mind, depending upon the particular creaseproofing agent to be used.

In the same manner, the temperature of the curing step, the length of time for the cure, etc., will depend on the reagent-catalyst system employed, and the weight and type of fabric being treated. These are matters which are well known to those skilled in the art.

The amount of cross-linking reagent which is deposited on the cellulosic textile will usually vary from about 1 to about by weight of the cellulosic textile. Amounts larger than 15% by weight may be used if desired, but generally there is no additional advantage to be gained thereby. In fact, some beneficial results are obtained even when the amount of cured reagent on the fabric is less than 1% by Weight of the fabric.

The solution, dispersion, or emulsion preferably used for treatment of the cellulosic material is an aqueous one as a matter of convenience and availability, since most commercial cellulose textile processors prefer to use aqueous systems rather than the more costly nonaqueous systems. Any suitable solvent may be used, however, depending upon which system is to be utilized. Wetting agents may also be present in the treating bath along with softeners, lubricants, stiffening agents, and the hand modifiers, as well as other conventional finishing agents.

While the chemical reagents which impart the durable crease-retaining properties to the fabric are referred to as creaseproofing agents in the specification and claims, the art is not certain as to whether the agents actually cross-link with the cellulose fibers of the fabric or whether they merely polymerize and are held to the fabric by other mechanisms. Applicant does not want to be restricted to any theory as to why the results are achieved, since the fact remains that they are achieved. Thus, the term creaseproofing agent is to be understood to include the group of chemicals which are known or recognized by the art to impart creaseproofing, wrinkle-resisting, creaseand shape-retaining and wash/wear properties to cellulose fiber-containing fabrics.

It is also to be understood that the term cellulose fibercontaining" fabric, textile, or the like, is meant to include cotton, rayon, linen, and blends of cotton and/or rayon with other natural or synthetic fibers, including nylon, polyacrylonitrile (Orlon), polyesters (Dacron), wool, silk, and the like fibers. Excellent results have been obtained with blends containing 35% cotton, and as low as 15 to 20% cotton in a blend will also give good results. The amount of cellulose-containing fiber which need be present in the fabric is that amount which will give improved wrinkle-resistant, crease-retentive and wash/wear properties when treated with a creaseproofing agent and the latter is cured thereon. The term curing as used in this specification and claims refers to all reaction processes which the aforesaid creaseproofing agents undergo with the cellulose molecules of the garment fibers to impart wrinkle-resistant, crease-retentive, wassh/Wear properties to the garments.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a pair of trousers having crease-retentive and wrinkle-resistant properties from a cellulose fiber-containing fabric having a latent curable creaseproofing agent therein and subsequently altering the length of said trousers and forming cuffs therein comprising forming said trousers in the usual manner, subjecting all of said trousers except the terminal portions of the legs to conditions sufficient to completely cure said creaseproofing agent and impart crease-retentive and wrinkle-resistant properties to said trousers, said creaseproofing agent in said terminal portions remaining in latent form, subsequently forming cuffs at the terminal portions of said legs, and subjecting said terminal portions and said cuffs to heat and pressure sufiicient to completely cure said latent creaseproofing agent therein and impart durable creases at the folded portions of said culfs.

2. A method of making a pair of trousers having crease-retentive and wrinkle-resistant properties from a cellulose fiber-containing fabric having a latent curable creaseproofing agent therein and subsequently altering the length of said trousers and forming cuffs therein, comprising forming said trousers in the usual manner, shielding the terminal portions of said trouser legs, subjecting all of said trousers except the shielded terminal portions of the legs to conditions sufiicient to completely cure said creaseproofing agent and impart crease-retentive and wrinkle-resistant properties to said trousers except in said shielded portions, said creaseproofing agent in said terminal portions remaining in latent form, subsequently forming cuffs at the terminal portions of said legs and subjecting said terminal portions and said cuffs to heat and pressure sufiicient to completely cure said latent creaseproofing agent therein and impart durable creases at the folded portions of said cuffs.

3. A method of making a garment having creaseretentive and wrinkle-resistant properties from a cellulose fiber-containing fabric having a latent curable creaseforming agent therein and subsequently altering said garment at a selected portion and forming a durable crease, pleat, or the like therein, comprising forming said garment in the usual manner, subjecting all of said garment except said selected portion to conditions sufiicient to completely cure said creaseproofing agent and impart crease-retentive and wrinkle-resistant properties to said garment, said creaseproofing agent in said selected portion remaining in latent form, subsequently altering said garment at said selected portion by forming at least one fold therein and subjecting said garment at said fold to heat and pressure sufiicient to completely cure said latent creaseproofing agent therein and form a durable crease at said fold.

4. A method of making a garment having creaseretentive and wrinkle-resistant properties from a cellulose fiber-containing fabric having a latent curable creaseproofing agent therein and subsequently altering said garment at a selected portion and forming a durable crease, pleat, or the like, at said selected portion, comprising forming said garment in the usual manner, shielding said selected portion of said garment and subjecting all of said garment with the exception of said selected portion to conditions sufficient to completely cure said creaseproofing agent and impart crease-retentive and wrinkle-resistant properties to said garment except in said shielded portion, said creaseproofing agent in said selected portion remaining in latent form, subsequently altering said garment at said selected portion by forming at least one fold therein and subjecting said garment at said fold to heat and pressure sufiicient to completely cure said creaseproofing agent therein and form a durable crease at said fold.

5. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein said conditions suflicient to cure said creaseproofing agent on said cellulose fiber-containing trousers comprises pressing said trousers at a temperature sufficient to at least partially cure said agent thereon and maintaining said trousers at a temperature sufficient to substantially complete said curing of said agent.

'6. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein said cellulose fiber containin'g trousers are cotton trousers.

7. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said conditions sufiicient to cure said creaseproofing agent on said cellulose fiber-containing garment comprise pressing slaid garments at a temperature suflicient to at least partiglly cure said agent thereon and maintaining said garment at a temperature sufiicient to substantially complete'said curing of said agent.

8. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said cellulose fiber containing garment is a cotton garment.

9. An unfinished pair of trousers made from cellulose fiber-containing fabric and having a creaseproofiing agent completely cured thereon, except the terminal portionsfof the trouser legs, to impart thereto crease-retentiye, wrinkle-resistant and wash/wear properties to substantially all portions of said trousers except the terminal pprtions of the trouser legs, said trousers being uncutfed with the terminal portions of said trouser legs being .unfinished and having said creaseproofing agent thereon in latent condition.

10. An unfinished garment made from cellulose fiber containing fabric and having a creaseproofiing agent completely cured thereon, except that portion which is to be altered to impart crease-retentive, wrinkle-resistant and wash/ wear properties to substantially all portionsfof said garment except that portion which is to be subsequently altered, said portions of said garment to' be altered having said creaseproofing agent thereon in latent form.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,241,997 5/1941 Ivey 3815 2,257,146 9/1941 Zirker et a1. 38- -15, 3,138,802 6/ 1964 Getchell 2-2 13: 3,166,765 1/1965 Getchell 2243 X' 3,170,167 2/1965 Isaacs 2-275 X 3,268,915 8/1966 Warnock et al. 2-243 HERBERT F. ROSS, Primary Examiner.

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