Be Intellectual Property, Inc.

Harold G LeClare

Gary Ray Hannah

Andrew Elliott

James P Morris

Kevin L Egbert

Kevin E Welch

A pleating machine () is provided which allows extremely rapid, uniform pleating of flexible, tubular bodies (), thereby eliminating the arduous and time-consuming task of manual pleating. The machine () includes an upper, stationary, female tubular jaw () and a lower, reciprocal, male tubular pleating jaw () which are oriented in superposed, substantially axial alignment, along with a drive assembly () serving to vertically reciprocate lower jaw (). An elongated rod-type body support () extends downwardly through the upper jaw () and presents a pleating surface (), so that upon reciprocation of lower jaw (), the jaw lugs () successively engage the body () to form pleats (). The pleats () are retained by keeper structure including inwardly extending female jaw segments () and weighted slide () mounted on support ().

Growing community of inventors

Lenexa, KS, United States of America

Harold G LeClare