Stanley H Terada

US Patent:

53404319, Aug 23, 1994

Filed:

Oct 1, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/130531

Inventors:

Stanley A. Terada - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Paragon Trade Brands, Inc. - Kent WA

International Classification:

B32B 3100

US Classification:

156359

Abstract:

An elastic band activation apparatus for activating a heat-sensitive thermal film attached to an edge of a body of an article to form an elastic band along the edge of the article. The apparatus has at least one chamber with a heating zone having a shrinkage atmosphere at a first temperature sufficiently elevated to activate the heat-sensitive thermal film to shrink the film to form the elastic band. The chamber may also have a cooling zone with a quench atmosphere at a second temperature which is less than the first temperature to arrest the shrinkage of the heat-sensitive thermal film. An article transporter transports the article through the heating zone and then through the cooling zone. The apparatus may also include two lateral compression bars for spreading apart first and second adjacent edges of an article when transported through the chamber to expose the article interior region to activate first and second heat-sensitive thermal films, thereby forming first and second elastic bands. Alternate methods of forming elastic bands along an edge of an article are also provided.

US Patent:

53686667, Nov 29, 1994

Filed:

Aug 31, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/114501

Inventors:

Stanley A. Terada - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Paragon Trade Brands, Inc. - Federal Way WA

International Classification:

B32B 3100

US Classification:

156 85

Abstract:

An elastic band activation apparatus for activating a heat-sensitive thermal film attached to an edge of a body of an article to form an elastic band along the edge of the article. The apparatus has at least one chamber with a heating zone having a shrinkage atmosphere at a first temperature sufficiently elevated to activate the heat-sensitive thermal film to shrink the film to form the elastic band. The chamber may also have a cooling zone with a quench atmosphere at a second temperature which is less than the first temperature to arrest the shrinkage of the heat-sensitive thermal film. An article transporter transports the article through the heating zone and then through the cooling zone. The apparatus may also include two lateral compression bars for spreading apart first and second adjacent edges of an article when transported through the chamber to expose the article interior region to activate first and second heat-sensitive thermal films, thereby forming first and second elastic bands. Alternate methods of forming elastic bands along an edge of an article are also provided.

US Patent:

51407574, Aug 25, 1992

Filed:

Oct 9, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/595048

Inventors:

Stanley H. Terada - Seattle WA

International Classification:

F26B 1900

US Classification:

34 66

Abstract:

An elastic band activation apparatus for activating a heat-sensitive thermal film attached to an edge of a body of an article to form an elastic band along the edge of the article. The apparatus has at least one chamber with a heating zone having a shrinkage atmosphere at a first temperature sufficiently elevated to activate the heat-sensitive thermal film to shrink the film to form the elastic band. The chamber may also have a cooling zone with a quench atmosphere at a second temperature which is less than the first temperature to arrest the shrinkage of the heat-sensitive thermal film. An article transporter transports the article through the heating zone and then through the cooling zone. The apparatus may also include two lateral compression bars for spreading apart first and second adjacent edges of an article when transported through the chamber to expose the article interior region to activate first and second heat-sensitive thermal films, thereby forming first and second elastic bands. Alternate methods of forming elastic bands along an edge of an article are also provided.