Shirt stiffening device

Abstract

The appearance of a shirt or blouse is kept smooth and wrinkle-free by applying a non-permanent, self-adhering shirt support device comprising a clear or highly translucent basic support layer, an adhesive formulated to be temporarily affixable to a shirt fabric, and an optional soft touch layer to area adjacent to a shirt placket.

1 ) A shirt support device, comprising
 a) a clear or highly translucent 0.01 to 1.3 mm thick basic support layer having a first surface and a second surface,   b) a clear or highly translucent self-adhesive layer affixed to the first surface of the basic support layer, said self-adhesive layer capable of being non-permanently attached to a shirt fabric,   and   c) an optional soft touch coating layer affixed to the second surface of the basic support layer,   
       wherein the shirt support device is capable of being non-permanently attached to a shirt fabric as a means to reduce wrinkles and provide support to the shirt. 
     
     
         2 ) The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the basic support layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polylactic acid, polystyrene, cellulose, cellulose acetate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 ) The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the basic support layer is 0.51 mm thick or less. 
     
     
         4 ) The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the device is 0.01 to 1.3 mm thick. 
     
     
         5 ) The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the device is 0.5 to 5.0 cm wide, and 5.0 to 30.0 cm long. 
     
     
         6 ) The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the soft touch coating comprises a polyurethane or acrylic resin. 
     
     
         7 ) The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is 0.5 to 5.0 cm wide, and 5.0 to 30.0 cm long. 
     
     
         8 ) The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the soft touch coating comprises a polyurethane or acrylic resin. 
     
     
         9 ) A process for reducing wrinkles and/or providing support to a shirt comprising adhering a device according to  claim 1  to a surface of the shirt. 
     
     
         10 ) A process for reducing wrinkles and/or providing support to a shirt comprising adhering a device according to  claim 6  to a surface of the shirt. 
     
     
         11 ) A process for reducing wrinkles and/or providing support to a shirt comprising adhering a device according to  claim 7  to a surface of the shirt. 
     
     
         12 ) The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the shirt has a placket and the device is adhered to an area adjacent to the placket. 
     
     
         13 ) The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the shirt comprises a fastener associated with the placket. 
     
     
         14 ) The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the shirt is a man's dress shirt, a woman's dress shirt, or a polo shirt. 
     
     
         15 ) A shirt having a placket, comprising a device according to  claim 1  temporarily adhered to an area adjacent to the placket. 
     
     
         16 ) The shirt according to  claim 15  comprising a fastener associated with the placket. 
     
     
         17 ) The shirt according to  claim 15 , which shirt is a man's dress shirt, a woman's dress shirt, or a polo shirt. 
     
     
         18 ) A process for manufacturing a shirt support device according to  claim 1  from a rigid yet flexible substrate, comprising, not in any particular order,
 a) molding, cutting, or forming the rigid yet flexible substrate into a shape fitting a shirt, 
 b) applying to a first surface of the rigid yet flexible substrate a coating of a non-permanent adhesive, or a two-sided non-permanent adhesive tape, 
 c) applying a release layer to the adhesive, or the release layer remains from the two-sided adhesive tape, 
 and 
 d) applying a soft touch coating to a second surface of the rigid yet flexible substrate. 
 
     
     
         19 ) The process according to  claim 18  wherein the rigid yet flexible substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polylactic acid, polystyrene, cellulose, cellulose acetate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 ) A device according to  claim 1  that consists of a shape that is rectangular in nature, and the opposing corners are removed.