Textile article

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6769144
  • Patent Number
    6,769,144
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, April 10, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 3, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A generally rectangular shaped textile fabric article having a top surface and a bottom surface with indicia disposed over all or portions of these surfaces. The fabric article is further defined by four sides with a border comprised of a plurality of simulated enlongated fringe strips situated in juxtaposed relation. The simulated fringe is easily and economically converted to individual pieces of fringe material by separating the pieces along prescribed lines and color indicators and can embody indicia and/or colors that effectively coordinate or contrast with the indicia and/or colors displayed on the surface(s) of the article.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates generally to the field of textiles and more particularly to a fabric blanket or “throw” with convertible simulated fringe borders.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Blankets or “throws” made of any suitable fabric material are well known in the prior art. Equally as well known are certain kinds of embellishments of these materials, including fringed borders. Fringes can be added as a separate component to the “throw” as pieces of thread or thread-like material attached along opposite sides or along all four sides of the article. Fringes can take other forms, for examples, such as strips of various materials or strands of rope or cord. Fringe materials can be loose hanging or tied in bunches, and are offered in a variety of contrasting or coordinating colors and textures.




However, nothing in the prior art includes a blanket or “throw” covering, or the like, that integrates a border that simulates or mocks a fringe component and then is easily, convertible to actual individual pieces of fringe material by separating the pieces in so many variations along prescribed lines and color indicators.




The present invention is directed to a fabric covering with borders that simulate a fringe component and easily convert to individual pieces of fringe material that can be color coordinated and size adjusted according to the user's interest and election.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In its preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a generally rectangular textile fabric article having a top-surface and a bottom surface with indicia disposed over all or portions of these surfaces. The article is further defined by four (4) sides with a border comprised of a plurality of simulated elongated fringe strips situated in juxtaposed relation. The simulated fringe is easily and economically converted to individual pieces of fringe material by separating the pieces to allow for a variety of creative and aesthetic effects along prescribed lines and color indicators. The fringe strips can embody indicia and/or colors that effectively coordinate or contrast with the indicia and/or colors displayed on the surface(s) of the article.




Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fabric “throw”.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fabric “throw” with a simulated fringe component.




Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fabric “throw” with a simulated fringe component that is easily and economically converted to individual pieces of fringe material by separating the pieces to allow for a variety of creative and aesthetic effects along prescribed lines and color indicators.




Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fabric “throw” with fringe strips that embody indicia and/or colors that effectively coordinate and contrast with the indicia and/or colors displayed on the principal surface(s) of the fabric.




Still another object of the present invention is to provide a “throw” with a simulated fringe component that is easy and cost effective to manufacture.




Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following specifications when considered in light of the attached drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the improved fabric “throw” of the present invention with the simulated fringe.





FIG. 1A

is an enlarged section of the improved fabric “throw” of

FIG. 1

shown within circled line


1


A in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the improved fabric “throw” of the present invention with the simulated fringe separated into individual pieces of fringe material and the corners of the “throw” excised.





FIG. 2A

is an enlarged section of the improved fabric “throw” shown within circled line


2


A of FIG.


2


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring more particularly to the drawings,

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the present invention depicting a textile fabric article


10


with an uncut fringe-like border


12


. Textile fabric article


10


can be used as any type of cloth covering as, for example, on a bed or to keep a person warm while sitting in a chair or elsewhere, or can also be used as a wall hanging or some similar item of artistic creation. Article


10


is comprised of a natural or synthetic fabric, or a combination of both. Dimensions of article


10


may vary from three or four feet square to several additional feet in width and length. The configuration of article


10


tends to be square or rectangular, though round, oval, and other shapes may be employed.




The principal component or field


14


of article


10


bears indicia, designs and/or color combinations that are intended to be aesthetically pleasing and marketable. Field


14


is bordered by a simulated fringe component


16


, which employs colors, tones and textures that attempt to coordinate closely with the designs, textures, tones and colors displayed on field


14


.




Fringe component


16


comprises a multitude of simulated individual fringe strips


18


defined by subtle lines of demarcation


20


which delineate one strip from another. At the corners


22


of article


10


are corner pieces


24


which can be removed either before or after strips


18


are physically separated from each other by a scissors


26


, or some other sharp instrument. The separated strips


18


comprise an attractive fringe surrounding the fabric article


10


with colors, tones and textures that effectively coordinate with their counterpart components displayed within the field


14


of the article. Depending upon the prescribed line and/or color indicator that one employs as the place to separate the strips, an aesthetically effective variety of color, tone and texture combinations are available. For example, by separating the strips


18


along one line of demarcation


20


and/or color indicator, in lieu of another alternative place of separation, one can create an entirely different aesthetic look, particularly when contrasted against the designs, indicia, colors, tones and/or textures of field


14


.




While the invention will be described in connection with a certain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment. Rather, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A blanket comprising:a generally rectangular shaped textile article comprised of a single piece of fabric having a top surface and a bottom surface with indicia disposed over portions of said top and bottom surfaces, a top edge and a bottom edge, and first and second side edges, said edges defined by a border comprised of a fringe having a plurality of simulated individually separate strips of material with indicia thereon; wherein each of said strips of material has corresponding borders on each side comprised of prescribed lines and color indicators for use in physically separating said strips of material or combination of strips of material into assorted groupings, each of said groupings having a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing visual effect.
  • 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said simulated strips of material are converted to individual pieces of fringe material by physically separating said simulated strips of material along said prescribed lines and color indicators to allow for an aesthetically effective variety of color, tone and texture combinations.
  • 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said simulated strips of material are color coordinated with the indicia on said top and bottom surfaces.
  • 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the design of said simulated strips of material coordinate in color, tone and/or texture with the indicia on said top and bottom surfaces.
  • 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the corners of said rectangular textile fabric are excised.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number Name Date Kind
6427265 Dix Aug 2002 B1