Apparatus and method for forming laminated and molded garments

Abstract

A method for forming a molded garment is provided. The method includes positioning an assembly of material between a first heated mold element and a second heated mold element, moving the first and second heated mold elements in relation to one another to laminate the assembly of material into a laminated assembly; moving a third heated mold element through the first heated mold element into contact with the laminated assembly so that the third heated mold element shapes a portion of the laminated assembly; and causing the first and second heated mold elements to trim fabric from the laminated to define the molded garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for forming a garment, comprising:
 a first element;   a second element, said first element and said second element being movable relative to one another; and   a third element for cooperating with said first and second elements to form the garment from an assembly of material.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first element is a heatable male mold and said second element is a heatable female mold, said heatable male and female molds cooperating to simultaneously laminate and mold said assembly of material to form the garment. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said third element is a heatable retention plate for holding and/or positioning said assembly of material in place. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said third element is a heatable male mold that interacts with said first and second elements to provide a three dimensional shape to said assembly of material. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for forming a molded garment, comprising:
 a first heatable mold portion having a pair of breast cup cavities defined therein;   a second heatable mold portion having a pair of openings defined therein, said pair of openings corresponding in position to said pair of breast cup cavities; and   a third heatable mold portion having a pair of breast cup molds defined thereon, said pair of breast cup molds being reciprocatively positioned in said pair of openings so that said pair of breast cup molds are moveable into and out of said pair of breast cup cavities.