QUILTING AND SEWING CALCULATOR

Abstract

The present invention comprises a calculator for performing sewing calculations. The calculator includes a processor and an input device connected to the processor. A display is connected to the processor. Software operates on the processor to receive quilt function operands from the input device. The software calculates quilt function results and displays the quilt function results on the display. A method of performing calculations is also disclosed. The method includes receiving data related to quilt calculations. The results related to the quilt calculations are calculated and the results related to the quilt calculations are displayed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is substantially a top view of a quilt.

FIG. 2 is substantially a top view of an embodiment of a quilt and fabric calculator in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is substantially an enlarged top view of the display shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is substantially a schematic diagram of internal components of the calculator of the present invention

FIGS. 5A and 5B are substantially a flowchart of a method of performing quilt function calculations related to quilt area in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is substantially a flowchart of a method of performing quilt function calculations related to quilt diagonal in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are substantially a flowchart of a method of performing quilt function calculations related to blocks and sashes in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8A is substantially a flowchart of a method of performing quilt function calculations related to squares in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8B is substantially a flowchart of a method of performing quilt function calculations related to triangles in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8C is substantially a flowchart of a method of performing quilt function calculations related to diamonds in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is substantially a flowchart of a method of performing quilt function calculations related to when a known amount of fabric (stash) is known.

FIG. 10 is substantially a flowchart of a method of calculating the cost of fabric.

Claims

1. A calculator comprising: (A) an input device configured to allow a user to input information;(B) a display device configured to communicate information to the user; and(C) a processor in communication with the input device and in communication with the display device, the processor being configured to: (a) receive at least one quilt function operand from the input device;(b) calculate at least one quilt function result; and(c) display the quilt function result on the display device.

2. The calculator of claim 1 wherein the quilt function operands are chosen from the group consisting of: (A) quilt width;(B) quilt length;(C) border width;(D) block size;(E) block orientation;(F) seam width;(G) binding cut width;(H) fabric width;(I) backing overage;(J) drop width;(K) block width;(L) block height;(M) number of width blocks;(N) number of height blocks;(O) sash width;(P) square size;(Q) number of squares;(R) number of one-half triangles;(S) number of one-fourth triangles;(T) number of sixty degree diamonds; and(U) number of forty five degree diamonds.

3. The calculator of claim 1 wherein the quilt function results are chosen from the group consisting of: (A) quilt area;(B) backing area;(C) batting area;(D) binding area;(E) border area;(F) drop area;(G) number of border strips;(H) number of binding strips;(I) binding cut width;(J) material costs;(K) quilt diagonal length;(L) sash area;(M) number of sash strips;(N) sash strip cut width;(O) block area;(P) number of blocks;(Q) number of block strips;(R) block strip cut width;(S) sixty degree diamond area;(T) sixty degree diamond strip cut width;(U) sixty degree diamond strip cut length;(V) forty five degree diamond area;(W) forty five degree diamond strip cut width;(X) forty five degree diamond strip cut length;(Y) number of drop strips;(Z) drop strip cut width;(AA) border strip cut width;(BB) block diagonal length;(CC) square diagonal length;(DD) square area;(EE) one-half triangle area;(FF) number of one-half triangle strips;(GG) one-half triangle strip cut width;(HH) one-fourth triangle area;(TI) number of one-fourth triangle strips; and(JJ) one-fourth triangle strip cut width.

4. The calculator of claim 1 wherein the display device is configured to display fractions.

5. The calculator of claim 1 wherein the input device is configured to receive fractions.

6. The calculator of claim 1 wherein the quilt function operands are received in a first measurement system and the quilt function results are displayed in a second measurement system.

7. The calculator of claim 1 wherein the input device includes at least one of the following keys: (A) a top width key;(B) a top length key;(C) a border key;(D) a block size key;(E) a drop key;(F) a number across key;(G) a number down key,(H) a sashing key;(I) a square size key;(J) a number of squares key;(K) a number of one-half triangles key;(L) a number of one-fourth triangles key;(M) a number of forty five degree diamonds key; and(N) a number of sixty degree diamonds key.

8. The calculator of claim 1 further comprising: (A) receiving at least one fabric area value; and(B) calculating at least one quilt function operand.

9. A calculator comprising: (A) an input device;(B) a display; and(C) a processor connected to the input device and the display, the processor programmed to: (a) receive at least one quilt function operand from the input device;(b) calculate at least one quilt function result; and(c) show the quilt function result on the display.

10. The calculator of claim 9 wherein the quilt function operands are chosen from the group consisting of: (A) quilt width;(B) quilt length;(C) border width;(D) block size;(E) block orientation;(F) seam width;(G) binding cut width;(H) fabric width;(I) backing overage;(J) drop width;(K) block width;(L) block height;(M) number of width blocks;(N) number of height blocks;(O) sashing width;(P) square size;(Q) number of squares;(R) number of one-half triangles;(S) number of one-fourth triangles;(T) number of sixty degree diamonds; and(U) number of forty five degree diamonds.

11. The calculator of claim 9 wherein the quilt function results are chosen from the group consisting of: (A) quilt area;(B) backing area;(C) batting area;(D) binding area;(E) border area;(F) drop area;(G) number of border strips;(H) number of binding strips;(I) binding cut width;(J) material costs;(K) quilt diagonal length;(L) sash area;(M) number of sash strips;(N) sash strip cut width;(O) block area;(P) number of blocks;(Q) number of block strips;(R) block strip cut width;(S) sixty degree diamond area;(T) sixty degree diamond strip cut width;(U) sixty degree diamond strip cut length;(V) forty five degree diamond area;(W) forty five degree diamond strip cut width;(X) forty five degree diamond strip cut length;(Y) number of drop strips;(Z) drop strip cut width;(AA) border strip cut width;(BB) block diagonal length;(CC) square diagonal length;(DD) square area;(EE) one-half triangle area;(FF) number of one-half triangle strips;(GG) one-half triangle strip cut width;(HH) one-fourth triangle area;(II) number of one-fourth triangle strips; and(JJ) one-fourth triangle strip cut width.

12. The calculator of claim 9 wherein the input device includes at least one of the following keys: (A) a top width key;(B) a top length key;(C) a border key;(D) a block size key;(E) a drop key;(F) a number across key;(G) a number down key;(H) a sashing key;(I) a square size key;(J) a number of squares key;(K) a number of one-half triangles key;(L) a number of one-fourth triangles key;(M) a number of forty five degree diamonds key; and(N) a number of sixty degree diamonds key.

13. The calculator of claim 9 further comprising: (A) receiving at least one fabric area value; and(B) calculating at least one quilt function operand.

14. A calculator for performing calculations and conversions of data for quilting, comprising: (A) means responsive to at least one user key for calculating data related to at least one quilt calculation; and(B) means for displaying the results of the at least one quilt calculation.

15. The calculator of claim 14 wherein the means for calculating data allows for the calculation of at least a portion of the cost of the quilt.

16. The calculator of claim 14 wherein at least one fabric type yardage can be stored on the calculator.

17. The calculator of claim 14 wherein the means for calculating data allows for the calculation of the amount of each type of fabric required.

18. The calculator of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the user keys are dedicated to quilt function operands.

19. The calculator of claim 14 wherein the calculator has dimensions less than 6 inches in length, 5 inches in width and 1 inch in height.

20. A method for performing calculations, but not all necessarily in the order shown, comprising: (A) receiving data related to at least one sewing calculation;(B) calculating results related to the at least one sewing calculation; and(C) displaying the results related to the at least one sewing calculation.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising: (A) entering data using at least one quilt operand key.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising: (A) storing default data.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising: (A) creating a quilt design from the data.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising: (A) displaying results using at least one quilt operand key.

25. The calculator of claim 14 wherein the quilt calculation includes calculating the optimum number of fabric strips that can be produced from a known fabric area.

26. The calculator of claim 14 wherein the calculator can perform quilt calculations and conversion in both yardages and meterages.

27. The calculator of claim 14 wherein the calculator can receive a variable fabric width.

28. The calculator of claim 26 wherein the calculator rounds up values for yardages and meterages to the next one-eighth yard increment.

29. The calculator of claim 20 further comprising: storing a plurality of fabric yardages.