Item of apparel

Abstract

A machine-washable item of apparel, in particular a suit jacket, includes a plurality of garment sections of a first, outer material ( 3 ), the first, outer material being a machine-washable fabric having a crease memory, the garment sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread; a plurality of sections of a second, interfacing material ( 5 ), the second interfacing material being a machine-washable, fusible interfacing material, the sections of the second, interfacing material being secured to the inner side of selected ones of the garment sections by heat fusing thereto; and a plurality of sections ( 9, 10 ) of a third, lining material, the third, lining material being a machine-washable lining material, the lining sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread, and the joined lining sections being secured on the inner side of the joined garment sections.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A machine-washable suit jacket comprising: 
 a plurality of garment sections of a first, outer material, said first, outer material being a machine-washable fabric having a crease memory, said garment sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread;    a plurality of pucker-preventing tapes secured by fusing to the backs of at least a portion of said sewn seams of said garment sections;    a plurality of sections of a second, interfacing material, said second interfacing material being a machine-washable, fusible interfacing material, said sections of said second, interfacing material being secured to the inner side of selected ones of said garment sections by heat fusing thereto;    a plurality of sections of a third, lining material, said third, lining material being a machine-washable lining material, said lining sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread, and said joined lining sections being secured on the inner side of said joined garment sections.    
     
     
         2 . A machine washable jacket as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the peel strength of parts fused to said outer material is at least 20 N/5 cm.  
     
     
         3 . A machine-washable suit jacket as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one pocket comprising a bag of pocket material is provided in the space between said joined garment sections and said joined lining sections, said pocket having a mouth opening externally, said mouth running transversely relative to the length of said jacket, and said bag being secured by sewing to a selected one of said seams joining said garment sections, said selected seam running generally along the length of said jacket.  
     
     
         4 . A machine-washable suit jacket as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a plurality of styling inserts selected from one or more of the group consisting of machine-washable shoulder pads, chest trim and sleeve trim, wherein said styling inserts are made of machine-washable material and the edges of said styling inserts are over-locked with machine-washable thread to obviate fraying.  
     
     
         5 . A machine-washable suit jacket as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said outer material comprises a wool and synthetic fabric mixture and said interfacing material and said lining material comprise 100% synthetic material.  
     
     
         6 . A machine-washable suit jacket comprising: 
 a plurality of garment sections of a first, outer material, said first, outer material being a machine-washable fabric containing more than 30% polyester, said garment sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread;    a plurality of sections of a second, interfacing material, said second interfacing material being a machine-washable, fusible interfacing material, said sections of said second, interfacing material being secured to the inner side of selected ones of said garment sections by heat fusing thereto;    a plurality of sections of a third, lining material, said third, lining material being a machine-washable lining material, said lining sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread, and said joined lining sections being secured on the inner side of said joined garment sections; and    at least one pocket comprising a bag of pocket material provided in the space between said joined garment sections and said joined lining sections, said pocket having a mouth running transversely relative to the length of said jacket, and said bag being secured by sewing to a selected one of said seams joining said garment sections, said selected seam running generally along the length of said jacket.    
     
     
         7 . A machine-washable suit jacket as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said at least one pocket is a breast pocket and is secured to a facing seam by sewing.  
     
     
         8 . A machine-washable suit jacket as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of pucker-preventing tapes are secured by fusing to the backs of at least a portion of said sewn seams of said garment sections.  
     
     
         9 . A machine-washable suit jacket comprising: 
 a plurality of garment sections of a first, outer material, said first, outer material being a machine-washable fabric having a crease memory, said garment sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread;    a plurality of sections of a second, interfacing material, said second interfacing material being a machine-washable, synthetic interfacing material, said sections of said second, interfacing material being secured to the inner side of selected ones of said garment sections by heat fusing thereto with an adhesive having a melt temperature in the range 130° to 140° C.;    a plurality of sections of a third, lining material, said third, lining material being a synthetic lining material, said lining sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread, and said joined lining sections being secured on the inner side of said joined garment sections; and    a plurality of styling inserts selected from one or more of the group consisting of machine-washable shoulder pads, chest trim and sleeve trim, wherein said styling inserts are made of machine-washable material and the edges of said styling inserts are over-locked with machine-washable thread to obviate fraying.    
     
     
         10 . A machine-washable suit jacket as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of machine-washable pucker-preventing tapes are secured by fusing to the backs of at least a portion of said sewn seams of said garment sections.  
     
     
         11 . A machine-washable suit jacket comprising: 
 a plurality of garment sections of a first, outer material, said first, outer material being a machine-washable fabric having a crease memory, said garment sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread;    a plurality of sections of a second, interfacing material, said second interfacing material being a machine-washable, synthetic interfacing material, said sections of said second, interfacing material being secured to the inner side of selected ones of said garment sections by heat fusing thereto;    a plurality of sections of a third, lining material, said third, lining material being a machine-washable lining material, said lining sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread, and said joined lining sections being secured on the inner side of said joined garment sections; and    at least one pocket comprising a bag of pocket material provided in the space between said joined garment sections and said joined lining sections, said pocket having a mouth opening externally, said mouth running transversely relative to the length of said jacket, and said bag being secured to a selected one of said seams joining said garment sections, said selected seam being a side seam and the bag of said at least one pocket being secured to said side seam by a tape sewn into said side seam.    
     
     
         12 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said mouth opens in said outer fabric.  
     
     
         13 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein two front pockets are provided and the bag of each of said two front pockets is secured to a respective adjacent side seam by a respective tape sewn into that side seam.  
     
     
         14 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 13 , further including a plurality of styling inserts selected from one or more of the group consisting of machine-washable shoulder pads, chest trim and sleeve trim, wherein said styling inserts are made of machine-washable material and the edges of said styling inserts are over-locked with machine-washable thread to obviate fraying.  
     
     
         15 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising at least one pocket comprising a bag of pocket material provided in the space between said joined garment sections and said joined lining sections, said pocket having a mouth opening externally, said mouth running transversely relative to the length of said jacket, and said bag being secured by sewing to a selected one of said seams joining said garment sections, said selected seam running generally along the length of said jacket.  
     
     
         16 . A machine-washable item of wearing apparel comprising: 
 a plurality of garment sections of a first, outer material, said first, outer material being a machine-washable fabric selected from the group consisting of a wool and polyester mixture with at least 30% polyester, a wool and polyester mixture with at least 50% polyester, and a wool polyester and lycra mixture, said garment sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread;    a plurality of pucker-preventing tapes secured to the backs of at least a portion of said sewn seams of said garment sections;    a plurality of sections of a second, interfacing material, said second interfacing material being a machine-washable, fusible interfacing material, said sections of said second, interfacing material being secured to the inner side of selected ones of said garment sections by heat fusing thereto with a peel strength of at least 20 N/5 cm; and    a plurality of sections of a third, lining material, said third, lining material being a machine-washable polyester lining material, said lining sections being joined to each other by sewn seams using machine-washable thread, and said joined lining sections being secured on the inner side of said joined garment sections.    
     
     
         17 . A machine-washable item as set forth in  claim 16 , further including at least one pocket comprising a bag of pocket material provided in the space between said joined garment sections and said joined lining sections, said pocket having a mouth opening in said outer fabric, and said bag being secured by a connection selected from the group consisting of sewing to a selected one of said seams joining said garment sections, and securing to one of said seams by a tape sewn into that seam.  
     
     
         18 . A machine-washable item of wearing apparel as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said item is a suit jacket.  
     
     
         19 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 18 , further including a plurality of styling inserts selected from one or more of the group consisting of machine-washable shoulder pads, chest trim and sleeve trim, wherein said styling inserts are made of machine-washable material and the edges of said styling inserts are over-locked with machine-washable thread to obviate fraying.  
     
     
         20 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising a bag of material readily permeable to washing water, said having an opening through which the jacket can be inserted, said bag being of a size sufficient to hold said item jacket within it, and said bag being provided with a closure for said opening.  
     
     
         21 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said bag is made of a mesh material and said closure is a zip closure.  
     
     
         22 . A machine-washable jacket as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said jacket comprises facings stitched to fronts of said jacket by blind stitching using machine-washable thread.  
     
     
         23 . A machine-washable item as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the edges of said lining material are over-locked with machine-washable thread to obviate fraying.  
     
     
         24 . A machine-washable item as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein parts of the item secured by heat fusing are heat fused using an adhesive having a melt temperature in the range 130° to 140° C.