June Kroenke
June Eudora Kroenke of Hartland, Wisconsin, U.S.,[1] is the inventor of several patented sewing tools and founded June Tailor, Inc. in 1962.
Kroenke began sewing as a child and her frustration with pressing garments of various shapes led her to design a pressing board out of cardboard. She had the final design constructed out of wood and obtained a patent on her invention.[2] Kroenke founded June Tailor in 1962[3] and began selling the pressing board and other pressing aids, first out of her basement, and then from a manufacturing facility in Richfield, Wisconsin. In 1976, her business had expanded to 24 products and the original pressing board, which had 12 different-shaped surfaces, remained the most popular item.[4]
Kroenke's patented inventions include:
- Contour pressing forms (sold as "June Tailor Board", a type of pressing buck), patent number US 3165845, issued 1965[2]
- Contour pressing boards, patent number US 3229393, issued 1966[5]
- Contour pressing board, patent number CA 743806, issued 1966[6]
- Universal pressing ham support, patent number US 4158265, issued 1979[7]
- Cushioned needlework blocking board, patent number US 4335533, issued 1982[8]
- Integrated cutting and pressing board including marking scale on the handle, patent number US 5386654, issued 1995[9]
References
- Schreiber, Joanne (May 13, 1970). "Sewing Inventions Make Money". Indiana Evening Gazette. p. 14.
- US patent 3165845, Kroenke June E, "Contour pressing forms", issued 1979-06-19
- "New corporations listing". The Capital Times. 90 (99). Madison, Wisconsin. October 5, 1962. p. 2.
- O. De La Rosa, Elena (November 11, 1976). "Seamstress puts new wrinkle in sewing". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 27. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- US patent 3229393, Kroenke June E, "Contour pressing boards", issued 1966-01-18
- US patent 743806, Kroenke June E, "Contour pressing board", issued 1966-10-04
- US patent 4158265, Kroenke June E, "Universal pressing ham support", issued 1979-06-19
- US patent 4335533, Kroenke June E, "Cushioned needlework blocking board", issued 1982-06-22
- US patent 5386654, Kroenke June E, "Integrated cutting and pressing board including marking scale on the handle", issued 1995-02-07