Patent Application
20100263180
The present invention relates generally to articles and related methods for creating custom and decorative fringes. More specifically, the present invention teaches an elongate and flexible template exhibiting an interior and linear extending slot. A yarn or ribbon is successively wrapped around the sides of the template in length progressing fashion as to overlay the slot. A stabilizer, including such as a bias tape, ribbon or hem tape, is aligned with the slot and sewn otherwise secured to the yarn or ribbon, following which the lateral extending edges are sectioned to remove the finished item from the template.
Commercial made fringes and trims are known to be fairly expensive articles and, given such, are further known to be provided in limited sizes and colors. This is further most evident when attempting to match a specific type and color of fringe material for application to such as a cushion.
The prior art is further documented with examples of template styled articles for creating such as bows or tufts. A first example of this is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,317,914, issued to McIntyre and which teaches a tufting device having a template with an open accessible slot and along which is wrapped a yarn material. The slot includes an enlarged circular shaped central profile, at which a further length of material is knotted (
The present invention discloses a kit assembly for creating a custom decorative fringe, and which includes an elongate and substantially planar shaped template exhibiting at least one widthwise extending hinge, and typically a pair of spaced apart hinges, such that multiple template sub-sections are foldable relative to another. A linear extending slot is defined within an interior of the template. A flexible and elongate decorative material is successively wrapped around sides of the template, and in side-by-side contacting and length progressing fashion, and so that the decorative material is caused to overlay the slot.
The stabilizer is aligned with the slot and applied there-along to fasten to the decorative material, the successive wraps of material subsequently being sectioned for removal of the finished item from the template and to permit subsequent application to an existing article. In any one of a number of preferred embodiments, the stabilizer can include any of ahem tape, bias tape, ribbon or an elongate strip of fabric sewn to the wound decorative material.
A notch can be formed in the template, along at least one side location, for engaging an initial winding of the decorative material. The template can be constructed of a flexible plastic and further such that the linear extending slot extends a substantial interior length of the template.
Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
Referring now to
Referring now to
The hinges 16 and 18 are further understood to include such as living hinges, these providing the ability of the template subsections 20, 22 and 24 to be repetitively folded and unfolded without affecting the structurally integrity of the interconnection between the succeeding subsections. Although not shown, it is important the template 14 be capable of being repetitively manipulated (i.e. successively folded and unfolded), such as during use with a sewing machine (not shown) and in order to quickly and effectively apply the finished article to the conventional cushion 12 or other suitable known article.
A linear extending slot is defined within an interior of the template 14 and as best illustrated in
Referring again to
A stabilizer element is provided, see as shown at 42, and which is aligned with the slot and applied there-along to fasten to the decorative material and to provide a firm edge to apply the fringe to the project (e.g., cushion 12) it will be decorating. The stabilizer 42 can include any of a ribbon, hem tape, bias tape or strip of fabric (as shown). It is also envisioned that other materials or compositions can be utilized as a stabilizer and which is used to attach the fringe to the decorative material.
The purpose of the stabilizer 42 is to secure the successive wraps of material, such as in non-interfering fashion with existing presser foot (not shown) of the sewing machine which stitches the stabilizer 42 to the yarn or ribbon via a reciprocating needle which sits in the middle of the presser foot, and prior to them being sectioned (such as by scissors 4 applied along each of the opposite side edges 34 and 36). At this point, the finished decorative item is removed from the template 14 and to permit subsequent application to an existing article.
A notch 44 can be formed in the template (such as shown along initial section 20), along at least one side location (see side 36), and for engaging an initial winding of the decorative material (see initial winding 2′ of yarn in
The template 14 can exhibit either or both a flexible (e.g. bendable) and/or foldable till plastic body and in order to be manipulated between the sewing machine and the operator.
The template, according to one non-limiting embodiment, can exhibit an overall length by example of forty inches by seven inches in width. As described previously, the slot can further include a one inch width to permit a sewing machine presser foot to fit into the slot, thereby attaching the stabilizer to the material being wound and can extend thirty six inches along the middle of the template interior and across the three bendable/hingedly interconnecting sections, thereby creating one yard of fringe at a time.
The yarn or ribbon is then progressively wound in the fashion described herein (and may further be double wound in instances where it is desired to achieve a particularly thick fringe trim). At this point, the template with attached yarn/ribbon is placed under the presser foot of the sewing machine (in one non-limiting variant) between which is the stabilizer and lie exposed surface of the cross wound decorative material. The decorative material is then sectioned in the manner illustrated (such as by incising with scissors) and in order to remove the completed fringe article and which exhibits a particularly thick pattern (owing to the windings extending along both opposite faces of the template in effect “doubling up” the number of individual fringes extending from the stabilizer).
A method for creating and applying a decorative fringe includes the steps of providing an elongate and substantially planar shaped template exhibiting at least one widthwise extending hinge such that a first template sub-section is foldable relative to a second template sub-section and forming a linear extending slot within an interior of the template. Additional steps include winding a flexible and elongate decorative material in successively wrapped fashion around the template in side-by-side contacting and length progressing fashion and further such that the decorative material is caused to overlay the slot, aligning a stabilizer with the slot and applying there-along by sewing to fasten to the decorative material, and sectioning the successive wraps of material for removal from the template.
Additional method steps include applying the decorative fringe to an existing article, forming a notch in the template for securing thereto an initial winding associated with the decorative material, and forming first and second spaced apart hinges for establishing first, second and third foldable template subsections.
Having described my invention, other additional embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims:
