Patterned Composite Material

Abstract

A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material adapted to be gathered in at least one direction with at least three rectangularly shaped elastic strip members individually applied to the sheet material in a stretched secured condition so that the sheet material connects the strip members. The strip members are so arranged on the sheet material that two strip members are positioned in line and spaced apart to form a space therebetween, with at least one strip member being positioned in a spaced distance to the side of the center axis of said two in line strip members. The elastic strip members are constructed to return to substantially their original dimensions after being stretched to carry the sheet material into a gathered configuration so that the plurality of elastic strip members forms a gathered composite pattern on the sheet material with the areas of the sheet material opposite the elastic strip members being gathered by the constrictive action of the plurality of elastic members and the adjacent areas to the elastic member secured areas being slightly depressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite the elastic members.

Description

The present invention generally relates to a patterned composite material and more specifically to a novel and improved sculptured material and to the process for making it. The sculptured material of the invention has an unusual decorative pattern through a novel process which causes the material to take on an attractive gathered look. The novel process converts the surface of the material from a standard relatively planar surface to an irregular undulating, alternately raised and lowered surface, creating an attractive and unique appearance. The above-mentioned material is especially conducive to the manufacture of purses, in that the economical, decorative material is easily applied to the purse body to provide a handsome, contoured appearance.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the base material before it has been processed.

FIG. 2 shows the application of stretched elastic members to the back of the base material shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the back of the base material of FIG. 2 after the elastic members have been allowed to resume a relaxed position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base material shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a purse made from the composite material shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a piece of base material 10 of a vinyl composition is used, although plastic materials or fabrics of a natural or synthetic composition can be substituted. While the base material 10, as shown, is of a single layer, it should be noted that the material can be a composite of several different layers of material comprising any desired combination. However, the base material used is preferably relatively unstretchable. The base material 10 is preferably carried by a base or a supply roller, not shown, and is removed from the roller and placed on a processing area. An elastic web from a separate supply roller is preferably cut into a plurality of elastic members 12 having an approximately two-inch square configuration. The elastic web can be made of any elastic material provided the elastic material has sufficient elasticity to return to its original configuration after the elongating stresses are relieved.

The advantage of using a plurality of separate elastic members 12 of small size with the base material 10 is that a tougher composite material 20 is created with the elimination of "puffing" which occurs when a large elastic web is used.

The square elastic members are then stretched approximately 1 inch, or to a set desired distance, depending upon the elasticity of the elastic material used and the nature of the base material 10. Adhesive is then applied to the elastic members. The elastic members are secured to the back of the base material 10 at spaced apart intervals of approximately 1 inch. The elastic members can be overlapped or preferably positioned adjacent each other in staggered relation such as that shown in FIG. 3.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the elastic members is preferably stretched in substantially one direction. The stretched elastic members 12 are designated by the numeral 14. The pattern of the composite material 20 can be changed depending on whether the constrictive reaction of the elastic members 12 is in a lengthwise or crosswise direction or a combination of both. Additional pattern changes can be provided by the substitution of different geometric shapes and spacings of the elastic members.

When the stretched elastic members 12, secured to the base material 10, return to their relaxed or normal configuration, the adhesively secured base material 10 is caused by the constrictive reaction of the elastic members 12 to gather and assume the corresponding position of the relaxed elastic members, as shown in FIG. 3. After the elastic members 12 have relaxed, the front of the finished composite inventive material 20 takes on a decorative patterned or contoured look, as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the gathered areas 16 of the base material form a wrinkled, ridge-like appearance, while the adjacent areas 18, which are not secured to the elastic members, take on a depressed configuration having a somewhat smoother appearance.

Alternatively, adhesive can be applied to the back of the material and the elastic members placed thereon. The adhesive applied to the elastic members 12 can be placed on the members in the stretched or unstretched position. The adhesive can be directly applied by a conventional spreading device or sprayed on, depending on the particular type of adhesive apparatus used, or can be predeposited on the elastic web.

The gathered composite material 20 is then run through a rubber fast-roller press, or other suitable pressing means, under pressure so that a permanency in the adhesion of the bond between the elastic members 12 and the base material 10 is achieved, while, in addition, simultaneously crinkling or wrinkling the gathered material into substantially permanent patterns. The patterned composite material 20 is then cut into pieces of various configurations. The cut pieces are placed onto the skeleton or body of a purse or other suitable item and are sewn or glued to the skeleton or body to form the item desired, as, for example, the purse 22 shown in FIG. 5. The process is preferably done in small-lot approach, because it is easier to do pieces for the right size of the picket book or other small sized items.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment since it may be otherwise embodied in the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material, said sheet material being adapted to be gathered in at least one direction, at least three rectangularly shaped elastic strip members individually applied in a stretched condition and secured to said sheet material, said sheet material constituting the sole connecting means between said strip members, said strip members being so arranged on said sheet material that two strip members are positioned in line and spaced apart to form a space therebetween, at least one strip member being positioned a spaced distance to the side of the center axis of said two in line strip members within said space, said elastic strip members being constructed to return to substantially their original dimensions after being stretched, to carry said sheet material into a gathered configuration so that said plurality of elastic strip members forms a gathered composite pattern on said sheet material, said areas of said sheet material opposite said elastic strip members being gathered by the constrictive action of said plurality of elastic members with the adjacent areas to said elastic member secured areas being slightly depressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite said elastic members.

2. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said space between said in line strip member is defined by the directly opposing edges of said two strip members.

3. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheet material is substantially unstretchable.

4. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectangular elastic members are squares.

5. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of the square edges is substantially two inches in length.

6. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strip members are secured by adhesive to said sheet material and spaced apart from each opposite in line strip member at an interval of substantially one inch.

7. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheet material comprises several different layers of material.

8. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of said layers of said sheet material is plastic.

9. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 8 wherein said plastic layer is vinyl.

10. A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material, said sheet material being adapted to be gathered in at least one direction, at least three rectangularly shaped elastic strip members individually applied in a stretched condition so that only two opposing edges of each strip member are directionally moved from each other, with said stretched strip members being secured to said sheet material, said sheet material constituting the connecting means between said strip members, said strip members being so arranged on said sheet material that two strip members are positioned in line and spaced apart to form a space therebetween, at least one strip member being positioned a spaced distance to the side of the center axis of said two in line strip members substantially adjacent said space, said elastic strip members being constructed to return to substantially their original dimensions after being stretched, to carry said sheet material into a gathered configuration so that said plurality of elastic strip members forms a gathered composite pattern on said sheet material, said areas of said sheet material opposite said elastic strip members being gathered by the constrictive action of said plurality of elastic members with the adjacent areas to said elastic member secured areas being slightly depressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite said elastic members.

11. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 10 wherein said space between said in line strip members is defined by the directly opposing edges of said two strip members.

12. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 11 wherein said directly opposing edges are substantially parallel.

13. A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material, said sheet material being adapted to be gathered in at least one direction, at least four rectangularly shaped elastic strip members individually applied and secured to said sheet material in a stretched condition in a spaced substantially parallel configuration, said sheet material constituting the sole connecting means between all of said strip members, two of said strip members being positioned in a substantially vertical line and spaced apart to form a space therebetween and the other two strip members being positioned in a substantially horizontal line and spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the center axis of said vertically lined strip members, said elastic strip members being constructed to return to substantially their original dimensions after being stretched to carry said sheet material into a gathered configuration so that said plurality of elastic strip members forms a gathered composite pattern on said sheet material, said areas of said sheet material opposite said elastic strip members being gathered by the constrictive action of said plurality of elastic members with the adjacent areas to said elastic member secured areas being slightly depressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite said elastic members.

14. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein said two other horizontally positioned strip members are placed to the side of said vertical lined strip members so that the outer edge of said vertical in line strip members is substantially parallel with the inner edge of said horizontally positioned strip members.

15. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein said strip members form a substantially cross-shape configuration.

16. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein said two other horizontally positioned strip members are placed away from the center axis of said vertically lined strip members so that the inner edges of said horizontally positioned strip members falls within the space formed by the outer edges of said vertical in line strip members.

17. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said strip members engages at least an edge of two other strip members.

18. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein said other two strip members are equally spaced apart from the center axis of said vertically lined strip members.