Patent Application
20070284381
The spandex-containing fabric can be shaped in any manner known in the art, including by stitching, heat sealing, adhesion, or the like, or including by a circular knit process. The polymer coating can be applied by painting, spraying, laminating, or the like. Where solvent is used to deliver the coating polymer, the solvent is selected to not damage spandex-containing fabric. The vinyl (PVC) or polyurethane coating can be on the outer surface, or on both surfaces. The resultant coated fabric is water resistant, though not necessarily water impermeable.
The spandex-containing fabric will typically contain 5 to 10% (of total yarn) of spandex fiber. The spandex provides reproducible shape recovery, in addition to enhancing the elasticity of the knit fabric. The remaining fabric content can be, for example, polyester, cotton, or nylon, or a mixture thereof.
The spandex-containing fabric can be decorated by printing. Printing can be, for example, by a wet print process or a heat transfer process.
The flex in the coated fabric can allow the cover to fit a variety of dispensers of similar height and volume. One reason for the height adjustability is that more or less of the cap assembly can be covered. Another reason is that a small portion of the bottom of the dispenser body can be visible (to close inspection), without losing the decorative effect.
Examples of size ranges are presented below with the height being the height of the dispenser up to the bottom of the cap and pump assembly. For flask-shaped dispensers:
In certain embodiments, the range fitted is a range included within one of the ranges set forth above, such as a range for which one or more of the endpoints is offset from an above-listed range by a multiple of 0.1 (such as a range of 10.6-11.5). The range fitted may not include every flask-shaped dispenser in the range, as very eccentric shapes can be used for the dispenser, but should include a broad assortment of dispensers in the range.
The decorative cover can be marketed with packaging or promotional material that displays instruction by word or illustration on how the decorative covers are to be used to cover and decorate soap and sanitizer dispensers. Such instruction can be on the packaging, within the packaging, secured to the product with a temporary tether, or the like.
The following examples further illustrate the present invention, but of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.
A pattern is printed on a knitted fabric containing spandex using a wet print process. The fabric is laminated on the print side with a 1 mil sheet of Fabuthane™ brand polyurethane. The coated fabric is then cut to the shape of fabric 62 (
Fabuthane™ brand polyurethane has the following typical properties:
The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application, the respective meanings set forth below.
A dress made of spandex-containing fabric conforms to a dispenser body if (i) it fits snugly enough that the dispenser can be picked up without the cover shifting enough to cause discomfort or unease in handling the dispenser, and (ii) it covers a sufficient part of the dispenser body (below the cap and pump assembly) so that uncovered portions do not have a substantial impact on the decorative impact of the covered dispenser.
Publications and references, including but not limited to patents and patent applications, cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety in the entire portion cited as if each individual publication or reference were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as being fully set forth. Any patent application to which this application claims priority is also incorporated by reference herein in the manner described above for publications and references.
While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations in the preferred devices and methods may be used and that it is intended that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.
