Volumizing Slip

Abstract

Ruffled or pleated fabrics have been commonly used as interior design elements many years to accentuate the aesthetic appearance of items such as dust ruffles, bed skirts, draperies, valances, and table skirts. The ruffles or pleats add volume to the design features, increasing their aesthetic appeal. However, due to age and wear, over time the ruffles or pleats lose their volumizing effect. A volumizing slip is provided, composed of a material stiffer than the existing fabric article. Thus, fulfillment of the long felt need for extending the usable life of design elements such as volumized dust ruffles, bed skirts, draperies, valances, and table skirts is provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fabric materials used in interior design and decoration. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices or apparatus for enhancing the appearance of existing fabric articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ruffled or pleated fabrics are a common design element in interior design and decoration. Such fabrics are found in dust ruffles or bed skirts (used with beds), draperies, valances, table skirts and other applications.

With age, and sometimes as a result of the use of less expensive fabrics, the ruffles or pleats in the article collapse and it loses its fullness or volume (due to creasing and a loss of stiffness in the fabric) and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Restoring the fullness or volume can be difficult or impossible because the ruffled or pleated article typically cannot easily be cleaned or treated with starch or sizing.

Thus, the ruffled or pleated article loses its effectiveness as an aesthetically pleasing design element and must be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a device for increasing the volume of pleated or ruffled fabric articles such as draperies, dust ruffles, valances and table skirts. This and other objects of the present invention are achieved with a volumizing article comprising a portion of volumizing fabric having a stiffness greater than the fabric of the existing article. The portion of volumizing fabric is dimensioned to be generally coextensive with the existing article. At least one fastener secures the portion of volumizing fabric in proximity to the existing article, wherein the portion of volumizing fabric enhances the apparent volume of the existing article.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the existing fabric article is a drape, dust ruffle, valance or table skirt.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portion of volumizing fabric is a mesh fabric.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mesh fabric is tulle.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastener comprises a hook-and-loop fastener having one portion on the existing article and another portion on the volumizing fabric.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastener is a topper that is secured between a mattress and box spring to locate the dust ruffle about the periphery of the box spring.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the figures and detailed description, which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are elevation and perspective views, respectively, of existing ruffled or pleated decorative fabric articles of the type contemplated for use with the present invention, namely, a drape and a bed skirt or dust ruffle.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a mesh fabric, namely tulle, that is contemplated for use as the volumizing fabric according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the volumizing article according to the present invention together with the existing pleated or ruffled fabric article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the Figures, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a drape 1 and bed skirt or dust ruffle 3 are illustrated. Drape or curtain 1 is entirely conventional as is bed skirt 3, which covers the box spring portion of a bed and is retained in position on the bed by a “topper,” which is a flange of fabric that is captured between the mattress (shown in phantom) and the box spring to locate and retain bed skirt 3. The fabric articles illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are exemplary of the existing fabric articles contemplated for use with the present invention. Such articles also include, without limitation, table skirts, table cloths and the like that employ pleats or ruffles in part to achieve their aesthetic or decorative appeal. As mentioned above, with time and use, the pleats or ruffles flatten or crease and can lose their aesthetic appeal. The present invention provides an apparatus or device for refreshing, restoring, or “volumizing” existing pleated and/or ruffled fabric articles, as will be described below.

Generally speaking, the volumizing article according to the present invention comprises one or more layers of a fabric that is stiffer or more rigid than the fabric of the existing article. The volumizing article is placed behind or beneath the existing article in close proximity so that the stiffer volumizing fabric fills the volume of the pleats or ruffles and restores the aesthetic appearance of the existing article. The volumizing article is not visible in ordinary usage.

The preferred volumizing fabric for construction of the volumizing article is a mesh or net fabric such as tulle 9, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The very open weave of the fabric makes it light in weight and with very low density, such that maximum volumizing effect is achieved for a given weight. Further, the tulle according to the present invention is woven of nylon thread of such a gauge or diameter that it produces a relatively stiff fabric that is capable of occupying the space behind or beneath the ruffles or pleats and expanding creased or flattened pleats or ruffles and restoring their appearance, in other words, giving the shape of the volumizing fabric to the fabric of the existing article.

Other fabrics, particularly of the mesh or net variety, may be appropriate for use as the volumizing fabric according to the present invention bearing in mind that the fabric must be low density (i.e. capable of occupying a large volume for a given weight) and relatively stiff so that the shape of the volumizing fabric is imparted to the fabric of the existing article (and not vice versa). The aesthetic appearance of the fabric is of minimal importance because it is not visible in ordinary use.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary construction of the volumizing article 11 according to the present invention. As shown, one or more (two are shown) layers 9 of volumizing fabric, preferably tulle, are sewn together using a serging, whip, or other loose stitch. Typically, and in the case of the drape 1 illustrated in FIG. 4, the layers of tulle 9 are stitched together at the upper periphery or edge of the fabric. The number of layers of fabric necessary depends on the number and depth of the pleats or ruffles and the pliability or lack of stiffness of the fabric of the existing article: typically more layers are required if the pleats or ruffles are deep and/or the fabric is very limp. The layers are sewn together to define pleats or ruffles that correspond in number, shape, and dimension to the ruffles or pleats of the existing article. Each layer that is sewn together is thus generally coextensive with the size or dimension of existing fabric article 1, including the dimensions of the ruffles or pleats and the peripheral dimensions of the article.

The layers of tulle 9 comprising volumizing article 11 according to the present invention then are secured in close proximity to (behind or underneath) existing article 1. The layers can be secured using one or more strips of hook-and-loop fasteners 13, 15 at the upper edges of both the existing article and the volumizing article, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, for dust ruffles and bed or table skirts, the layers can be sewn or otherwise attached to a topper 5 (FIG. 2). The layers of tulle 9 could also be secured by hook-and-loop fasteners to a topper for added versatility. Further, for valances and curtains, the layers of tulle 9 can be secured to the curtain or valance rod by curtain hooks or by shirring the assembly on the rod.

In use, the volumizing article 9 is secured in close proximity behind or underneath the existing pleated or ruffled fabric article 1 or 3. The existing article renews its appearance by having the stiffer volumizing article behind it and the pleats and ruffles are restored in aesthetic appearance.

The volumizing article according to the present invention provides a number of advantages. Primarily, it provides a means for restoring the aesthetic appearance of existing ruffled or pleated fabric articles without resort to dry cleaning, washing, ironing, steaming or disassembly and reassembly of the article. Existing ruffled or pleated articles formed of inexpensive fabric can be lent a fuller, more luxurious appearance with the volumizing article according to the present invention.

The invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It is thus not limited, but is susceptible to variation and modification without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A volumizing article for use in increasing the apparent volume of an existing fabric article, the volumizing article comprising: a portion of volumizing fabric having a stiffness greater than the fabric of the existing article, the portion of volumizing fabric being dimensioned to be generally coextensive with the existing article; andat least one fastener for securing the portion of volumizing fabric in proximity to the existing article, wherein the portion of volumizing fabric enhances the apparent volume of the existing article.

2. The volumizing article according to claim 1, wherein the existing fabric article is a dust ruffle.

3. The volumizing article according to claim 1, wherein the portion of volumizing fabric is a mesh fabric.

4. The volumizing article according to claim 3, wherein the mesh fabric is tulle.

5. The volumizing article according to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a hook-and-loop fastener having one portion on the existing article and another portion on the volumizing fabric.

6. The volumizing article according to claim 2, wherein the fastener is a topper that is secured between a mattress and box spring to locate the dust ruffle about the periphery of the box spring.