Method and product of enhanced durability wrinkle resistant and/or pucker free garments

Abstract

Wrinkle resistant garments produced by the cross-linking of cellulose and/or pucker free garments produced by adding a fuse tape into an edge seam are treated with chemicals such as sodium tetraborate and/or similar compounds having a pH of about 9-10 or higher in a process that can significantly improve the garment's durability. The selected chemical is applied to areas of the garments which are subject to excessive abrasion during daily wear and laundering.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wrinkle resistant garment having at least one enhanced wear edge component, said garment comprising: 
 a generally wrinkle resistant garment formed with cross-linked fabric having generally flat panel components;    said generally wrinkle resistant garment having at least one component reversibly bent forming an edge; and    a cross-linking inhibitor applied on said at least one reversely bent edge prior to curing of said wrinkle resistant garment wherein cross-linking at said at least one reversely bent outermost edge is reduced as compared with said flat panel components of said garment.    
     
     
         2 . A wrinkle resistant garment having at least one enhanced wear edge component as defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said cross-linking inhibitor being applied to an outer actuate edge surface of said reversely bent edge in an arc having a length of from 90 to 120 degrees.  
 
     
     
         3 . A wrinkle resistant garment having at least one enhanced wear edge component as defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said cross-linking inhibitor being applied to an outer actuate edge of said reversely bent edge to a depth of at least fifty percent of the thickness of said garment fabric.  
 
     
     
         4 . A wrinkle resistant garment having at least one enhanced wear edge component as defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said cross-linking inhibitor being applied to an outer actuate edge of said reversely bent edge to a depth of one hundred percent of the thickness of said garment fabric.  
 
     
     
         5 . A wrinkle resistant garment having at least one enhanced wear edge component as defined in  claim 1  wherein; 
 said cross-linking inhibitor comprises a sodium borate solution.  
 
     
     
         6 . An enhanced wear component of a wrinkle resistant shirt collar, said collar comprising: 
 an interior fabric collar component reversibly bent at an outermost edge;    an exterior fabric, collar component reversibly bent at an outermost edge;    said exterior fabric collar being formed with a generally wrinkle resistant cross-linked fabric;    a bonding strip interposed within said collar peripherally at an outer edge of said collar and adjacent to said exterior fabric collar component;    a stitch extending through said reversibly bent portions of said interior collar fabric said bonding strip and said exterior collar fabric; and    a cross-linking inhibitor applied on said outermost edge of said exterior fabric collar.    
     
     
         7 . An enhanced wear component of a wrinkle resistant shirt cuff, said cuff comprising: 
 an interior fabric cuff component reversibly bent at an outermost edge;    an exterior fabric, cuff component reversibly bent at an outermost edge;    said exterior fabric cuff being formed with a generally wrinkle resistant cross-linked fabric;    a bonding strip interposed within said cuff peripherally at an outer edge of said cuff and adjacent to said exterior fabric cuff component;    a stitch extending through said reversibly bent portions of said interior cuff fabric said bonding strip and said exterior cuff fabric; and    a cross-linking inhibitor applied on an outermost edge of said exterior fabric of said cuff.    
     
     
         8 . An enhanced wear component of a winkle resistant shirt center placket, said center placket comprising: 
 an interior fabric center placket component reversibly bent at an outermost edge;    an exterior fabric, center placket component reversibly bent at an outermost edge;    said exterior fabric center placket being formed with a generally wrinkle resistant cross-linked fabric;    a bonding strip interposed within said center placket peripherally at an outer edge of said center placket and adjacent to said exterior fabric center placket component;    a stitch extending through said reversibly bent portions of said interior center placket fabric said bonding strip and said exterior center placket fabric; and    a cross-linking inhibitor applied on an outermost edge of said exterior fabric of said center placket.    
     
     
         9 . A method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment comprising the steps of: 
 applying a wrinkle resistant finishing solution to a garment;    applying a cross-linking inhibitor to edges of the garment subject to excessive wear; and    curing the garment.    
     
     
         10 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying a solution having a pH of about 9 to about 10.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying a solution having a pH of approximately equal to greater than 9.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying a tetrasodium salt solution.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying a borate salt solution.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying a sodium borate solution.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying the inhibitor to the garment areas manually.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying the inhibitor by a method selected from the group consisting of: 
 brushing, dropping or using a rotary applicator.  
 
 
     
     
         17 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 coating at least an outermost reversely bent edge of a seam of the garment with the cross-link inhibitor along a cross-sectional arc of between ninety degrees and one hundred and twenty degrees.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 coating the cross-link inhibitor along a cross-sectional arc of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees around the edge of the seam.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying the cross-link inhibitor along a cross-sectional arc at the edge of a seam to a depth of approximately fifty percent the fabric of the seam.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying the cross-link inhibitor along a cross-sectional arc at the edge of a seam to full penetration of the seam up to a position adjacent to a sewn stitch of the seam.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying the finishing solution comprises: 
 dipping the garment in the finishing solution.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying the finishing solution comprises: 
 spraying the garment with the finishing solution.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying the finishing solution comprises: 
 applying the finishing solution to the garment areas by a vapor phase process.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 23  wherein: 
 the inhibitor is applied prior to the vapor phase process.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein: 
 the inhibitor is applied by at least one of a brush, dropper or rotary applicator.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein: 
 the garment is a shirt collar having a pucker free seam.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein: 
 the garment is a shirt sleeve cuff having a pucker free seam.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein: 
 the garment is a shirt center platen having a pucker free seam.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein: 
 the garment is a pair of pants with a pucker free/wrinkle free edge seam in the cuffs.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method for improving the durability of a wrinkle resistant garment as defined in  claim 9  wherein said step of applying a cross-linking inhibitor comprises: 
 applying a compound in solution, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of borate salts, tetrasodium salts, decahydrates, sodium diborate decahydrate, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, Solubor, sodium borate, disodium tetraborate decahydrate, sodium borate decahydrate, borascu, baricin, gerstly borate and sodium pyroborate decahydrate.