Multiple-pleat forming and fastening apparatus to prevent stretching and tearing

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR FORMING PLEATES IN A SHEET OF DRAPERY MATERIAL AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, A FRAME MEMBER IN SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PLEATING STATIONS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME MEMBER, EACH OF SAID PLEATING STATIONS HAVING A PLURALITY OF FIXED CREASEFORMING ELEMENTS DEFINING CHANNELS, AND A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE CREASING ELEMENTS, ONE FOR EACH RESPECTIVE CHANNEL; RECIPROCATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE CREASING ELEMENTS VERTICALLY INTO SAID CHANNEL IN ORDERED RELATION BEGINNING WITH AN INTERIOR MOVABLE ELEMENT LOCATION AND PROGRESSING SUCCESSIVELY OUTWARD IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM THE INTERIOR LOCATION, ELEMENT BY ELEMENT AND STATION BY STATION, UNTIL A SHEET INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE FIXED AND MOVABLE ELEMENTS IS IMPRESSED WITH CREASES AT AT LEAST A PLURALITY OF SAID STATIONS, AND STAPLER FASTENING MEANS MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT AT EACH OF SAID STATIONS FOR SECURING THE CREASES AT EACH OF SAID STATIONS TO FORM A PLEAT AT THE SAID STATION.