U.S. patent application number 17/374991 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-20 for tie dye with sodium chloride.
This patent application is currently assigned to Duncan Enterprises. The applicant listed for this patent is Duncan Enterprises. Invention is credited to Hawk Duncan, Karen Nishikawa, Frank Peters, Debbie Stevenson.
Application Number | 20220018062 17/374991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220018062 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishikawa; Karen ; et
al. |
January 20, 2022 |
TIE DYE WITH SODIUM CHLORIDE
Abstract
A method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric includes
adding a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second
predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined
weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye. The
method further includes mixing the first predetermined weight of
the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye
together to form a dry dye mixture, dispensing the mixed first
predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second
predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle, and adding water
to the dye bottle having the mixed first predetermined weight of
the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye
to form the tie dye solution.
Inventors: |
Nishikawa; Karen; (Clovis,
CA) ; Peters; Frank; (Coarsegold, CA) ;
Duncan; Hawk; (Frenso, CA) ; Stevenson; Debbie;
(Frenso, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Duncan Enterprises |
Fresno |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Duncan Enterprises
Fresno
CA
|
Appl. No.: |
17/374991 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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63053551 |
Jul 17, 2020 |
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International
Class: |
D06P 1/00 20060101
D06P001/00; D06P 5/12 20060101 D06P005/12 |
Claims
1. A method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric comprising:
adding a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second
predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined
weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye;
mixing the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and
the second predetermined weight of the dye together to form a dry
dye mixture; dispensing the mixed first predetermined weight of the
sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye into
a dye bottle; and adding water to the dye bottle having the mixed
first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second
predetermined weight of the dye to form the tie dye solution.
2. A method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric comprising:
adding sodium bicarbonate and a first predetermined weight of
sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye, wherein
the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on
the color of the dye; mixing the sodium bicarbonate, the first
predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second
predetermined weight of the dye together to form a dry dye mixture;
dispensing the mixed sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined
weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight
of the dye into a dye bottle; and adding water to the dye bottle
having the mixed sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight
of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the
dye to form the tie dye solution.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising dispensing the tie dye
solution on the fabric.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein adding sodium bicarbonate and a
first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second
predetermined weight of a dye is performed using a filler
machine.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein mixing the sodium bicarbonate,
the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the
second predetermined weight of the dye together is performed using
a tumbler mixing apparatus.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the filler machine adds the first
predetermined weight of the sodium chloride to the sodium
bicarbonate and the dye in the tumbler mixing apparatus.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein dispensing the mixed sodium
bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride
and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle is
performed by a dye filling machine.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein mixing the sodium bicarbonate,
the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the
second predetermined weight of the dye together is performed such
that the resulting mixture is homogeneous.
9. The method of claim 2, further comprising shaking the tie dye
solution in the dye bottle until the bottle contents are
dissolved.
10. The method of claim 2 further including grinding the first
predetermined weight of sodium chloride prior to mixing the sodium
bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride
and the second predetermined weight of the dye together.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined weight
of the sodium chloride is at a value that attains optimal
solubility in water for the color of the dye to achieve optimal dye
strength with respect to the bonding of the dye to the fabric
without creating dye clumping, or flocculation.
12. The method of claim 2, wherein one half of a teaspoon of the
sodium chloride per four ounces of the dry dye mixture is added
into the dye bottle before the water is added.
13. A tie dye mixture for a fabric comprising: a first
predetermined weigh of sodium chloride; a second predetermined
weight of dye, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium
chloride is based on the color of the dye.
14. The tie dye mixture of claim 13 further comprising sodium
bicarbonate.
15. The tie dye mixture of claim 14 further comprising water.
16. The tie dye mixture of claim 13, wherein the first
predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is at a value that
attains optimal solubility in water for the color of the dye to
achieve optimal dye strength with respect to the bonding of the dye
to the fabric without creating dye clumping, or flocculation.
17. The tie dye mixture of claim 13, wherein four ounces of the tie
dye mixture includes one half of a teaspoon of the sodium chloride.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This application relates to a tie dye with sodium
chloride.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Tie dyeing is a method of producing colorful patterns on
clothing. A tie-dye on clothing is made by tying the clothing and
then dyeing it with various colors. This can include folding,
twisting, pleating, or crumpling the clothing, tying it, and then
dyeing it with colors. The result is a colorful pattern such as a
spiral, polka dot, or bulls eye pattern on the clothing. It is
desirable to optimize dye strength to improve its ability to impart
color to materials. Sodium chloride (salt) along with urea may be
added by an end user (i.e. dispensed separately) to the dye in the
dye bottles in an attempt to increase dye strength. But controlled
experiments have shown that urea has no beneficial effects on dye
strength.
[0003] Tie dyes may benefit from improvements.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect of the present invention, a method of making a
tie dye solution for a fabric is provided. The method includes
adding a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second
predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined
weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye. The
method further includes mixing the first predetermined weight of
the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye
together to form a dry dye mixture, dispensing the mixed first
predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second
predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle, and adding water
to the dye bottle having the mixed first predetermined weight of
the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye
to form the tie dye solution.
[0005] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
making a tie dye solution for a fabric is provided. The method
includes adding sodium bicarbonate and a first predetermined weight
of sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye,
wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is
based on the color of the dye. The method further includes mixing
the sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the
sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye
together to form a dry dye mixture, dispensing the mixed sodium
bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride
and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle,
and adding water to the dye bottle having the mixed sodium
bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride
and the second predetermined weight of the dye to form the tie dye
solution.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, a tie dye
mixture for a fabric is provided. The tie dye mixture includes a
first predetermined weigh of sodium chloride and a second
predetermined weight of dye. The first predetermined weight of the
sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye.
[0007] Other aspects of the disclosed invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying
drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top view of a container containing dye, sodium
bicarbonate, and sodium chloride before being mixed according to
the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a filler machine and
tumbler mixing apparatus in which the filler machine is about to
deposit the pre-weighed sodium chloride into the tumbler mixing
apparatus containing sodium bicarbonate and dye according to the
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a grinding machine that
is grinding sodium chloride having a coarse grain to sodium
bicarbonate having a fine grain according to the first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view of a container containing dye, sodium
bicarbonate, and sodium chloride uniformly mixed according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the uniformly mixed dry
mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride of the
container of FIG. 4 poured through a funnel into a dye bottle
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a dye filling machine
dispensing a predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed dry
mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride into a
dye bottle according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a dye filling machine
dispensing a predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed dry
mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride into a
dye bottle according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dye bottle containing
the predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed dry mixture of the
dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dye bottle containing
water mixed with the predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed
dry mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the dye bottle with the dye
solution mixture, and a pre-moistened fabric dispensed with the dye
solution mixture according to the first embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0018] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method for making a tie dye
fabric according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] It will be readily understood that the components of the
embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures
herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different
configurations in addition to the described example embodiments.
Thus, the following more detailed description of the example
embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to
limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely
representative of example embodiments.
[0020] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or
more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific
details are provided to give a thorough understanding of
embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize,
however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one
or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components,
materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures,
materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to
avoid obfuscation. The following description is intended only by
way of example, and simply illustrates certain example
embodiments.
[0021] Reactive dyes have varying solubility in water and affinity
for fabric. Dyes with high water solubility tend to stay in the
solution rather than migrate and affix to the fabric. Adding sodium
chloride to water generally reduces dye solubility and drives more
dye toward the fabric. Higher dye concentrations on the fabric lead
to greater dye strength.
[0022] Because of the varying solubility of different colors of
dye, different quantities of sodium chloride are required to attain
optimal solubility for a given color. The present invention has
determined the different solubility requirements and ideal sodium
chloride concentrations for each color. In addition, the present
invention deposits the correct amounts of sodium chloride into the
respective dye bottles during the manufacturing process, using
standard filler machines. This process makes it very convenient for
the end user to achieve the best results and allows the end user to
enjoy the benefits of optimized dye solubility in a pre-bottled
solution, so that they do not need to manually measure and add the
sodium chloride.
[0023] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a
dye bottle 20 is provided as seen in FIG. 10. The dye bottle 20
contains a dye solution mixture 22 comprising a reactive dye 24
(FIG. 1), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) 26 (FIG. 1), sodium
chloride (salt) 28 (FIG. 1), and water. The dye solution mixture 22
is applied to a fabric 46 (usually cotton) that is pre-moistened
with water.
[0024] Reactive dye is employed to impart color to natural
(non-synthetic) fabric fibers. When the dye comes into contact with
natural fabric fibers, it forms covalent bonds with cellulose in
cotton fabrics. Sodium bicarbonate is employed to raise the pH of
the dye solution and thereby open up more binding sites on the
fabric to receive the dye. Sodium chloride can be used with certain
dyes to decrease solubility in water, which causes the dye to
migrate toward fabric and bond with it. Water serves as the carrier
for dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride. It wets the
fabric and distributes the dye over the surface. The fabric,
usually pre-moistened cotton, is the substrate, or surface onto
which the dye affixes.
[0025] Fiber Reactive dye type influences the effectiveness or lack
thereof of sodium chloride. Highly water soluble dyes benefit from
added sodium chloride. They are rendered less soluble in salt water
and migrate to more hospitable environments such as fabric fibers.
Dyes that benefit from added sodium chloride include, but are not
limited to, turquoise and yellow.
[0026] Dyes with lower solubility in water do not benefit from
added sodium chloride because they tend to migrate into fabric
fibers as-is. The additional "push" from sodium chloride to reduce
solubility further causes the dye molecules to clump together, or
flocculate. The dye will still migrate toward and adhere to fabric,
but the end result is a blotchy, unappealing appearance. Dyes that
do not benefit from added sodium chloride and actually show
problematic flocculation include red, fuchsia, violet, and
purple.
[0027] With reference now to FIG. 12, an example methodology 200 is
illustrated and described as to how to make a tie dye fabric
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. While the
methodology is described as being a series of acts or steps that
are performed in a sequence, it is to be understood that the
methodology is not limited by the order of the sequence. For
instance, some acts or steps may occur in a different order than
what is described herein. In addition, a step may occur
concurrently with another step. Furthermore, in some instances, not
all steps may be required to implement a methodology described
herein.
[0028] First, in step 202, the dye 24, the sodium bicarbonate 26
and the sodium chloride 28 contents are pre-weighed. As mentioned
above, the amount of sodium chloride 28 added or not added depends
on the dye color. In particular, for turquoise colored dye, a 4
ounce dye mixture in the dye bottle 20 contains one half teaspoon
(about 3.4 grams) of sodium chloride 28. Other dyes that benefit
from salt addition such as yellow contain one half teaspoon or a
lesser quantity of salt per 4 ounce bottle, depending on
experimental results. Dyes 24 such as red, fuchsia, violet and
purple contain no salt, as experiments have demonstrated that it is
detrimental to performance. FIG. 1 shows the sodium chloride 28,
the sodium bicarbonate 26, and the dye 24 of the dye solution
mixture 22 before being mixed together.
[0029] If coarse salt grains 30 are used, the sodium chloride 28
might need to be added to the bottle in a separate step, or in step
204 grounded by a grinding machine 32 (FIG. 3) to a fine particle
size 28 to blend better with the dye 24 and the sodium bicarbonate
26. In step 206, the correct amount of sodium chloride 28 is added
along with the corresponding amounts of the dye 24 and sodium
bicarbonate 26 for the respective dye bottle 20 in a tumbler mixing
apparatus 36 (FIG. 2) using a standard filler machine 38 (FIG. 2).
The amounts of the dye 24 and sodium bicarbonate 26 for the
respective dye bottle 20 may also be added into the tumbler mixing
apparatus 36 using a respective standard filler machine 38 for each
substance. FIG. 2 shows the pre-weighed sodium chloride 28 being
added by a filler machine 38 to the pre-weighed dye 24 and sodium
bicarbonate 26 in the tumbler mixing apparatus 36 to be uniformly
mixed.
[0030] In step 208, the pre-weighed dye 24, sodium bicarbonate 26
and sodium chloride 28 contents are then uniformly mixed in the
tumbler mixing apparatus 36 (FIG. 2). In particular, the tumbler
mixing apparatus 36 is activated to cause the dye 24, sodium
bicarbonate 26 and sodium chloride 28 to tumble for 10 or more
minutes until the sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and dry dye
mixture 40 is homogeneous. Then, in step 210, the dry dye mixture
40 is dispensed by appropriate weight into the dye bottles 20 using
a dye filling machine 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the dry dye mixture 40 may be
dispensed by appropriate weight from a container of FIG. 4 into the
dye bottle 20 by a user through a funnel 44 inserted into the dye
bottle 20. FIG. 9 shows the dry dye mixture 40 in the dye bottle
20.
[0031] Then in step 212, the bottle of the dry dye mixture 40 of
sodium chloride 28, sodium bicarbonate 26, and dye 24 is then added
with water and shaken well for about 60 seconds until the bottle
contents are dissolved. FIG. 10 shows the dissolved dye solution
mixture 22. Then, in step 214, the dissolved dye solution mixture
22 is dispensed onto a pre-folded fabric 46 (FIG. 11). The fabric
46 may be pre-moistened to help distribute the dye 24 in the dye
solution mixture 22. In step 216, the dye or dyes 24 that are
dispensed onto the pre-folded fabric 46 are allowed to set for 6-8
hours or overnight. In step 218, the dyed fabric 46 is then rinsed
until the water runs clear and then laundered and dried. FIG. 11
shows the dye solution mixture 22 applied to a pre-moistened fabric
46.
[0032] Alternatively, step 216 could include placing in the
microwave oven safe container the pre-folded fabric 46 with the
dyes dispensed thereon. The container and fabric are microwaved for
two minutes and allowed to cool for 20 minutes. This reduces the
amount of time required for the tie dye to `set` in the fabric.
Normally it takes over 8 hours at room temperature, but by using
the heat generated in the water by the microwave, this process can
be sped up to around 2 minutes plus a cool-down period of 20
minutes.
[0033] Sodium bicarbonate 26 raises the pH of the solution and the
fabric to expose the dye bonding sites on the fabric. The salt in
turn facilitates dye migration by making the aqueous (water)
environment less hospitable to dye and the fabric (by default) more
hospitable to dye. The present invention would introduce sodium
chloride only to bottles of dye that benefit from sodium chloride
addition, and in the quantities found to create optimal solubility
without creating dye clumping, or flocculation. Sodium chloride
benefits some dyes, but has little or even negative impacts on
other dyes. It is an objective of the present invention to allow
interactions between dyes containing sodium chloride and those not
containing sodium chloride to be not detrimental to
performance.
[0034] Dye Testing
[0035] Dyes are tested by three methods using a control group of
fabric swatches with each fabric swatch having dye and sodium
bicarbonate dye solutions, and an experimental group of fabric
swatches with each fabric swatch having dye and sodium bicarbonate
and sodium chloride dye solutions in accordance with the present
invention.
[0036] The first method to administer is the ten drop test on a
pre-moistened 4''.times.4'' cotton fabric swatch. The test
procedure involves the application of ten drops of dye in the
center of the 4''.times.4'' swatch. The second method is 60 seconds
of full immersion of a pre-moistened 4''.times.4'' cotton fabric
swatch in dye solution. The third method is 60 seconds of full
immersion of a multi-fabric swatch in dye solution.
[0037] In each method above, the swatches are covered with plastic
sheeting and left undisturbed overnight. The following day, the
swatches are rinsed under cold running water until it runs clear.
Then the swatches are laundered on regular cycle (warm wash and
cold rinse) using powder detergent. Finally, the swatches are
placed into a dryer on low heat setting until dry.
[0038] Dye Analysis
[0039] The swatches are sorted into pairs. Each pair contains one
control swatch and one experimental swatch. Each pair of control
and experimental swatches are visually examined for dye strength.
Fabric swatches that show a deeper, more saturated dye shade are
considered the better performers.
[0040] A more objective spectrophotometer evaluation is also
conducted on the 4''.times.4'' swatches that are fully immersed in
dye solution. The control and experimental swatches are scanned on
a spectrophotometer and a color strength analysis is performed. The
swatch with the highest calculated color strength is considered to
be the best performer. In cases where the experimental swatches
show increased dye strength compared to the control, salt is added
to the formula, up to, and including one half teaspoon per 4 ounce
bottle. In cases where the experimental swatches show lesser
strength and/or flocculation compared to the control swatches, salt
is not added to the formula.
[0041] Although various embodiments of the disclosed tie dye with
sodium chloride have been shown and described, modifications may
occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification.
The present application includes such modifications and is limited
only by the scope of the claims.
* * * * *