Patent Application
20090188619
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a pad, and more particularly to a method of making a mouse pad.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional mouse pads are classified into tow types, named hard mouse pad and soft mouse pad. The hard mouse pad has a plastic layer, PP, PVC, and PC for example, and a skidproof layer, NR, EVA, and PU for example. The soft mouse pad has a fabric layer, polyester and cotton for example, and a skidproof layer, NR, EVA, and PU for example. Besides, to have an attractive look, both of the hard mouse pad and soft mouse pad are printed with patterns or words on the plastic layer or on fabric layer.
Because of the plastic layer having smoother surface, the pattern printed thereon is clearer and dirt or dust thereon is easier to clean. The hard mouse pad, however, is harder that is hard to fold and carry. The soft mouse pad is softer to be rolled up and has well shock absorption. But, the fabric layer is easier to get stain thereon, unclear pattern, threads on the edges, and an unattractive look. In other words, both of hard mouse pad and soft mouse pad have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the disadvantages may be improved.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide method of making a mouse pad, which the mouse pad has the advantages of both of the conventional hard and soft mouse pads.
According to the objectives of the present invention, a method of making a pad, comprising the steps of preparing a fiber fabric; heating and pressing the fiber fabric on a side thereof to form the fiber fabric with a flat layer and a fiber layer; printing a pattern on the flat layer of the fiber fabric; and bonding an elastic member to the fiber layer of the fiber fabric to form a mouse pad.
The present invention further provides another method, which includes preparing an unprinted mouse pad material including an elastic member and a fiber fabric attached on the elastic member; heating and pressing the fiber fabric of the mouse pad material to form the fiber fabric with a flat layer and a fiber layer; and printing a pattern on the flat layer of the fiber fabric.
As shown in
The first step is preparation of raw material 110, which the raw material includes a fiber fabric 12 with a fiber structure, such as polyester, cotton, and the like.
The second step is heating and pressing 120, which uses a conventional rolling apparatus 20 to heat and press the fiber fabric 12 simultaneously. The rolling apparatus 20 includes a heating roller 201 and a room temperature roller 202. A temperature of the heating roller 201 is greater than or at least equal to a melting temperature of the fiber fabric 12. The fiber fabric 12 passes the heating roller 201 and the room temperature roller 202 and is heated and pressed to melt parts of the fibers on a surface of the fiber fabric 12, and the molten fibers are pressed to form a very thin flat layer 22 and a fiber layer 23 under the flat layer 22. The flat layer 22 makes the fiber fabric 12 having a plastic like smooth surface.
The third step of the present invention is printing 130 to print pattern or word on the flat layer 22.
The fourth step of the present invention is bonding elastic member 140. The fiber layer 23 of the fiber fabric 12 is attached on an elastic member 14 to form a mouse pad 20 with a clear pattern on the surface. The elastic member 14 may be made of rubber. The ways of attaching the fiber fabric 12 on the elastic member 14 includes using glue or putting the fiber fabric 12 on an unfoamed rubber sheet (with foaming agent therein already), and then performing vulcanization procedure to bond them together.
The present invention provides the fiber fabric 12 of the mouse pad 20 being heated and pressed to form a thin flat layer 22 on the surface. As has described previously, the flat layer 22 has a plastic like flat surface that it may print clear pattern thereon and clean the stain thereon easily. Besides, there is no thread left on the edge. The flat layer 22 is very thin that the mouse pad 20 may be rolled up to carry. The elastic member 14 provides the shock absorbing function. In conclusion, the mouse pad made by the method of the present invention has the advantages of both of the conventional hard and soft mouse pads but the disadvantage thereof.
As shown in
It may use a conventional hot press apparatus (not shown) in the heating the pressing step of the present invention. The hot press apparatus includes a base and a movable hot pressing plate. The fiber fabric 12 is put on the base, and the hot pressing plate is preheated and moves down to heat and press the fiber fabric 12 in the same time.
As shown in
The rolling apparatus may have texture thereon to press the mouse pad with 3-dimension pattern that may provide the mouse pad with more attractive look.
In conclusion, the method of the present invention may make the mouse pad with properties of soft, rolling up, and shock absorption to have all the advantages of the conventional mouse pads but the disadvantage thereof.
The description above is a few preferred embodiments of the present invention and the equivalence of the present invention is still in the scope of the claim of the present invention.
