U.S. patent application number 10/702986 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for interconnected strings of beads.
Invention is credited to Oliver, David Charles.
Application Number | 20040134229 10/702986 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32717520 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040134229 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oliver, David Charles |
July 15, 2004 |
Interconnected strings of beads
Abstract
Articles fabricated from prefabricated strings of beads. The
strings of beads are joined perpendicularly by applying pressure
such that the cords cross and remain crossed due to the tension in
the cords. The strings of beads are thus assembled into a mesh or
fabric, two such fabrics being optionally interleaved to form a
denser fabric; the strings are also assembled into items so as to
fit a person's body or cover some other article. The strings of
beads are also formed into loops, and formed into fringes to
further adorn the articles. Many colors and styles of strings of
beads are assembled, both singly and in combination, and designs
are incorporated into the articles, producing multiple appearances.
A great variety of articles are produced, including all manner of
clothing, flags, bags, containers, novelties, wraps, etc.
Inventors: |
Oliver, David Charles; (San
Antonio, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David C. Oliver
8721 Mountain Top
San Antonio
TX
78255-3528
US
|
Family ID: |
32717520 |
Appl. No.: |
10/702986 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60424133 |
Nov 6, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
63/37 ;
63/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/083 20130101;
D04D 1/04 20130101; A41D 31/0005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
063/037 ;
063/038 |
International
Class: |
A44C 025/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A bead article comprising: a plurality of prefabricated strings
of beads, wherein each said prefabricated string of beads is joined
to at least one of the other said prefabricated strings of beads;
wherein each join in said prefabricated strings of beads is
effected by pressing an adjacent pair of beads on a first
prefabricated strings of beads perpendicularly across an adjacent
pair of beads on a second prefabricated strings of beads until the
first prefabricated strings of beads and the second prefabricated
strings of beads snap together; whereby joining said plurality of
prefabricated strings of beads forms a useful or decorative
structure.
2. The bead article of claim 1, wherein said prefabricated strings
of beads are interconnected in a mesh two beads or more apart,
whereby said prefabricated strings of beads form an open
fabric.
3. The bead article of claim 1, wherein a first prefabricated
strings of beads mesh is interwoven with a second prefabricated
strings of beads mesh, whereby said prefabricated strings of beads
form a dense fabric.
4. The bead article of claim 1, wherein said prefabricated strings
of beads are interconnected so as to conform to the shape of a part
of a person, whereby said prefabricated strings of beads form a
garment.
5. The bead article forming a garment of claim 4, wherein said
prefabricated strings of beads are interconnected so as to form a
seamless garment.
6. The bead article forming a garment of claim 4, wherein a
plurality of said prefabricated strings of beads extend from the
body of said garment, whereby said plurality of strings provide
straps for said garment.
7. The bead article of claim 4, wherein a plurality of said
prefabricated strings of beads extend from the body of said
garment, whereby said plurality of strings provide a decorative
fringe for said garment.
8. The bead article of claim 4, wherein a plurality of said
prefabricated strings of beads reenter the body of said garment in
a perpendicular or parallel manner, whereby said plurality of
strings provide decorative or functional loops for said
garment.
9. The bead article of claim 1, further including additional
prefabricated strings of beads are joined onto the article, whereby
said additional strings ornament said bead article.
10. A bead garment comprising: a plurality of prefabricated strings
of beads, wherein each said prefabricated string of beads is joined
to at least one of the other said prefabricated strings of beads;
wherein each join in said prefabricated strings of beads is
effected by pressing an adjacent pair of beads on the first string
perpendicularly across an adjacent pair of beads on the second
string until the strings snap together; whereby joining said
prefabricated strings of beads forms a decorative article of
clothing.
11. The bead garment of claim 10, wherein said prefabricated
strings of beads are interconnected in whole or part, in a mesh two
beads or more apart, whereby said prefabricated strings of beads
render said bead garment semi-transparent.
12. The bead garment of claim 10, wherein a plurality of sets of
said prefabricated strings of beads are interconnected in
interwoven meshes two beads apart, whereby said prefabricated
strings of beads render said bead garment wholly or partially
opaque.
13. The bead garment of claim 10, wherein a plurality of said
prefabricated strings of beads extend from the body of said bead
garment, whereby said plurality of strings provide straps for said
bead garment.
14. The bead garment of claim 10, wherein a plurality of said
prefabricated strings of beads extend from the body of said bead
garment, whereby said plurality of strings provide a decorative
fringe for said bead garment.
15. The bead garment of claim 10, further including additional
prefabricated strings of beads joined onto said bead garment,
whereby said additional prefabricated strings of beads ornament
said bead garment.
16. The bead garment of claim 10, wherein a plurality of said
prefabricated strings of beads reenter the body of said garment in
a perpendicular or parallel manner, whereby said plurality of
strings provide decorative or functional loops for said
garment.
17. A method for joining a plurality of prefabricated strings of
beads comprising the steps of: (a) placing a first prefabricated
string of beads perpendicularly across a second prefabricated
string of beads, such that the gap between a pair of adjacent beads
on the first prefabricated strings of beads is juxtaposed with the
gap between a pair of adjacent beads on the second prefabricated
strings of beads; (b) applying pressure on the said adjacent pairs
of beads until the strings snap together; (c) repeating steps (a)
and (b) until a bead article with a desired structure has been
formed.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the said prefabricated sets of
beads are joined into an interconnected mesh, with the
interconnections two or more beads apart, such that meshes are
interwoven so as to form a loosely formed fabric.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein two distinct sets of said
prefabricated sets of beads are each alternately joined into an
interconnected mesh, with the interconnections two beads apart,
such that meshes are interwoven so as to form a tightly formed
fabric.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/424,133 filed Nov. 6, 2002.
FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Technical Field
[0005] This invention relates to the fabrication of articles from
strings of beads. More particularly, the present invention relates
to garments and other articles fabricated by snapping prefabricated
strings of decorative beads together perpendicularly.
[0006] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0007] Decorative beads have previously been applied to substrates
as taught by Hambright in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,120, and Kurihara in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,993, and otherwise embroidered onto fabrics in
various traditional manners. Beads have also been assembled into
frameworks as taught by Hector in U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,334. Beads
have been incorporated into the weave of a fabric as taught by
Blatz in U.S. Pat. No. 1,992,856. Each of these techniques produces
an effect approximating to a continuous surface of beads, but each
requires further materials additional to the beads, or strings of
beads, themselves and requires significant labor or equipment to
produce.
[0008] Continuous strings of beads have also been assembled into
necklaces and the like by fastening them using clasps or buckles as
taught by Lineberry in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,925.
[0009] Continuous strings of often brightly colored beads are
manufactured in large quantity to be used as Christmas decorations
and the like and are therefore economical to produce. Such beads
are permanently fixed to their cord and hence cannot slip off,
using economical techniques taught by Bateholts in U.S. Pat. No.
1,958,841. Strings of beads manufactured in this way are referred
to as "Manufactured On Thread" or M.O.T.
[0010] Manufacturers make simple loops of such beads to be used as
necklaces at Mardi Gras celebrations and the like. Such necklaces
may be furthermore ornamented with pendants and may be illuminated
as taught by Day, et al in U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,364; such
ornamentation is either done during manufacture of the beads or by
using fastenings. Each of these techniques can produce only
essentially linear arrangements, rather than fabrics or general
garment forms.
[0011] Braginsky teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,572 how to produce
a manipulable beaded string toy by interconnecting strings of beads
strings so as create geometric figures. Such beads are strung on
elastic cord without being fixed to the cord (except for the end
beads) and are normally held in contact by the elastic, and are
useful as an educational toy.
[0012] Accordingly there is a need in the art to produce
two-dimensional surfaces of beads, both flat and shaped, so as to
produce ornamental garments, decorations, flags and the like,
without the need for clasps, substrates or frameworks. This needs
to be achieved without requiring laborious assembly stages or
complex machinery, which would preclude producing individually
customized items. It is to such that the present invention is
directed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention meets the need in the art by producing
a variety of fabrics, garments and other articles from
prefabricated strings of decorative beads, such as the so-called
M.O.T. ("Manufactured on Thread") beads, having the following
advantages:
[0014] 1. The beads are readily available, in many sizes and
appearances, and produce a wide variety of visual effects.
[0015] 2. The strings are joined together perpendicularly, without
the need for glue, sewing, frameworks or the like.
[0016] 3. The articles produced may be in any of a wide variety of
shapes and sizes.
[0017] 4. The articles may be in the form of a continuous surface,
or formed to fit to a body, or hung in loops or fringes, or any
combination.
[0018] 5. The articles may be made more opaque by interleaving
multiple sets of strings.
[0019] 6. The articles may be patterned by careful choice of
variously colored strings of beads.
[0020] 7. The articles may be further decorated by similarly
attaching additional strings of beads of appropriate lengths,
colors and appearances.
[0021] Further objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become apparent from a reading of the following
detailed description of the invention and claims in view of the
appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIGS. 1a-c each illustrate a fabric formed by repeatedly
joining strings of beads. FIG. 1 is a perspective projection; FIG.
1b is a bird's eye view and FIG. 1c shows a cross section.
[0023] FIGS. 2b, 3b and 4b illustrate how two strings of beads are
pushed towards and across each other until they snap into place
connected laterally; FIGS. 2c, 3c and 4c show the same in cross
section.
[0024] FIGS. 5a-c similarly illustrate a double density fabric
formed by interweaving two fabrics.
[0025] FIGS. 6a-c illustrates how a fabric can be augmented by the
addition of further sections of strings of beads so as to decorate
the fabric.
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a flag made from a fabric made from
strings of beads.
[0027] FIGS. 8a-b illustrate a bikini made from strings of
beads.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0028] Cords 103, 123, 143 and 163 are in strings of beads in the
vertical direction.
[0029] Cords 213, 233, and 253 are a second set in strings of beads
in the vertical direction.
[0030] Cords 104, 124, 144 and 164 are in strings of beads in the
horizontal direction.
[0031] Cords 214, 234, and 254 are a second set in strings of beads
in the horizontal direction.
[0032] Cords 304a/b, 324a/b, 344a/b, 364a/b are in string sections
of beads ornamenting the fabric in the horizontal direction.
[0033] Beads 101a, 101b . . . 101h are threaded on cord 104.
[0034] Beads 121a . . . h, 141a . . . h, and 161a . . . h are
threaded on cords 124, 144, and 164 respectively.
[0035] Beads 102a, 102b . . . 102h are threaded on cord 103.
[0036] Beads 122a . . . h, 142a . . . h, and 162a . . . h are
threaded on cords 123, 143, and 163 respectively.
[0037] Beads 211a . . . h, 231a . . . h, and 251a . . . h are
threaded on cords 214, 234, and 254 respectively.
[0038] Beads 212a . . . h, 232a . . . h, and 252a . . . h are
threaded on cords 213, 233, and 253 respectively.
[0039] Beads 201b-c and 201f-g are threaded on string sections 304a
and 304b respectively.
[0040] Beads 221b-c, 221f-g, 241b-c, 241f-g, 261b-c, and 261f-g,
are threaded on string sections 324a/b, 344a/b, and 364a/b
respectively.
[0041] 105, 115, and 125 are 45-degree edges in the bikini
preferred embodiment.
[0042] 106, 116, 126, and 136 are bikini straps.
[0043] 107, 117, 127, 137, 147, and 157 are fringes on the bikini
preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like
parts have like identifiers, FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view
of a set of four prefabricated strings of beads 101a-h, 121a-h,
141a-h, and 161a-h, threaded on cords 104, 124, 144, and 164
respectively. Perpendicular to these is an additional set of four
strings of beads 102a-h, 122a-h, 142a and 162a-h, threaded on cords
103, 123, 143, and 163 respectively. These two sets of strings are
"snapped" together to form a fabric, as explained later. The
strings of beads are preferably 7 to 8 mm. diameter M.O.T. beads,
in metallic plastic and all similarly sized; however any size of
bead may be used such as the 5 mm. (or even smaller), or 55 mm. (or
even larger), which are available commercially; likewise any
suitable composition of bead may be used.
[0045] FIG. 1b illustrates the same in bird's eye view and FIG. 1c
illustrates a cross section through the fabric at cord 124. In the
preferred embodiments of the present invention, these drawings
should be considered as showing a small part of a larger fabric,
garment or other article.
[0046] The sets of strings are "snapped" together between alternate
pairs of beads (121a-b, 121c-d, 121e-f, etc.), giving a lacy
result. The cross sectional view in FIG. 1c illustrates how the
"snapped" together strings of beads are interconnected, and how
alternate beads are slightly turned from the plane, causing the
separation between them to be reduced, making the alternate pair
arrangement preferable.
[0047] FIGS. 2b-c, 3b-c, and 4b-c illustrate the stages of
"snapping" together two perpendicular strings of beads; this
operation is repeated in a natural manner to form fabrics, garments
and other articles.
[0048] FIG. 2b illustrates, in bird's eye view, sections of two
strings of beads laid across each other perpendicularly. The upper
string has beads 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d, permanently attached to
cord 124 in the usual manner for such strings of beads; the lower
string has beads 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d, permanently attached to
cord 123 likewise. Note that beads 121b and 121c of the upper
string rest upon beads 2b and 2c of the lower string. This may be
better seen in FIG. 2c, which is a cross sectional view
corresponding to the line 2c-2c in FIG. 2b.
[0049] FIG. 3b illustrates the same bird's eye view of the two
strings of beads as FIG. 2b after the upper string has been pushed
down by pressing on beads 121b and 121c, forcing cord 124 to be
stretched slightly between beads 121b and 121c, and for cord 123 to
be similarly stretched between beads 122b and 122c. This may be
better seen in the corresponding cross-sectional view in FIG. 3c,
where it can be seen that as the beads are separated, cords 123 and
124 touch and start to distort each other.
[0050] FIG. 4b illustrates the same bird's eye view of the two
strings of beads as FIGS. 2b and 3b after the upper string has been
pushed down further until beads 121b and 121c pass beads 122b and
122c, and each of the pair of beads 121b-c and 122b-c are able to
move together, causing cords 124 and 123 to relax respectively.
This may be better seen in the cross sectional view in FIG. 4c,
where it can be seen that although cords 124 and 123 are relaxed,
they are now intertwined, thus holding the two strings of beads
together. These strings I refer to as being "snapped" together.
[0051] FIG. 5a illustrates a projection view of a section of double
thickness fabric formed by interweaving two single thickness
fabrics, which gives an opaque result. Due to the complexity of the
drawing, several labels have been omitted for clarity, where their
numbering can be inferred from their neighbors. Initially, the
string of beads 101a-h on cord 104 is snapped together with
perpendicular strings of beads 102a-h, 122a-h, 142a-h, and 162a-h,
threaded on cords 103, 123, 143, and 163 respectively, in the
manner of assembling the fabric shown in FIGS. 1a-c. Further
strings of beads 212a-h, 232a-h, and 252a-h threaded on cords 213,
233, and 253 respectively are laid across cord 104 between beads
101b-c, 101d-e, and 101f-g respectively. The string of beads
211a-h, on cord 214, is placed below cords 103, 123, 143, and 163,
between beads 102b-c, 122b-c, 142b-c, and 162b-c respectively, and
above cords 213, 233, and 253, between beads 212b-c, 232b-c, and
252b-c respectively. Bead pairs 211b-c and 212b-c are "snapped"
together, as are pairs 211d-e and 232b-c, and pairs 211f-g and
252b-c. This process is continued adding the further strings of
beads on cords 124, 234, 144, 254, and 164, "snapping" the strings
alternately to the strings of beads on cords 103, 123, 143, and
163, and to the strings on the cords 213, 233, and 253.
[0052] FIG. 5b illustrates a bird's eye view of the same double
thickness fabric as in FIG. 5a. The corresponding cross sectional
view in FIG. 5c illustrates how for each string of beads, exactly
half of the intersecting strings are "snapped" to the first
string.
[0053] FIGS. 6a-c illustrates the same double thickness fabric as
shown in FIGS. 5a-c, with the addition of additional ornamentation,
here shown as simple pairs of beads. These decorative beads are
added to the fabric as it is assembled, beads 201b-c and 201f-g
being "snapped" between beads 212a-b, and beads 252b-c respectively
just before assembling the string on cord 104 into the fabric. This
process is repeated as needed with further ornamentation beads as
desired. In addition to pairs of beads, ornamentation may be in any
form including fringes, loops, symbols or lettering.
[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates how a double thickness fabric,
constructed as in FIG. 6a is assembled to form a flag, making use
of existing multi-color strings of beads to form stripes, and
ornamented with pairs of beads to give the impression of stars.
[0055] FIG. 8 illustrates how a garment, in this case a bikini, is
constructed, generally in the manner shown in FIGS. 5a-c, modified
to form diagonal edges 105, 115 and 125 by changing the direction
of each strings by 90 degrees at the line of the diagonal. In
addition, long strings of beads 106, 116, 126, and 136 comprises
straps for the bikini, and the ends of each string continue for a
few beads so as to form fringes 107, 117, 127, 137, 147, and
157.
[0056] These preferred embodiments are illustrative of the
unlimited uses for the technique for snapping beads into garments
and fabrics. Other such uses include but are not restricted to:
bags, purses, fanny packs, cans and bottle holders, decorative
packaging, Christmas stockings and other ornaments, wall hangings,
banners, vests, skirts, tops, dancewear, headbands and hats, garter
belts and other lingerie, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, collars
and other jewelry, and fancy dress wear.
[0057] While this invention has been described in detail with
particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, the
principles and modes of operation of the present invention have
been described in the foregoing specification. The invention is not
to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed
because these are regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
In particular, the invention may be applied to strings of beads of
any size, appearance or composition, or to strings of beads where
the snap-together or other fastenings substitute for the string's
cord. Moreover, modifications, variations and changes may be made
by those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and
scope of the invention as described by the following claims.
* * * * *