Totem Name Batik Kit

Abstract

This specification discloses a batik kit which includes certain elements which enable a user to originate a design from letters which are painted on a piece of fabric. The kit comprises a container in which is packed certain elements which are recognized as being conventional in batiking, such as, a piece of fabric, a plurality of bars of colored wax, a set of artist paint brushes, a bar of colorless wax, a background dye of a desired color, a color fixer for the dye, and instructions on ways to use the kit. Most importantly, the kit includes a transfer sheet, such as a piece of stencil paper and a set of forms of the letters of the alphabet.

Description

The present invention relates to batik kits and is concerned primarily with the kit which includes a transfer sheet and a set of letter forms which enable a user to originate a design such as a name that is displayed in a unique manner, such as in simulation of a totem pole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the present time the practice of batiking is becoming more and more widespread and is meeting with a high degree of public acceptance. Batiking as now practiced includes the essential steps of tracing a design of one shape on a piece of fabric. Individual pieces of wax of different colors are melted in separate receptacles and a color is applied to a particular area of the design by artist paint brushes. The piece of fabric is then ordinarily turned over and any areas which have not been penetrated by the wax are touched up either by the particular color for that area or by melted uncolored wax. A dye of a particular color for a desired background is disolved in water whereupon the fabric is crinkled and immersed in the disolved dye. The dye is then drained from the fabric whereupon the latter is washed and dried. The fabric is then flattened and pressed between sheets of paper towels. A dye set for fixing the color is then applied whereupon the fabric is mounted as desired.

Batik kits which are now available to the public ordinarily include a set of designs which are to be transferred to the piece of fabric for tracing. Booklets are also provided as an element separate from a batik kit which include a number of designs or figures which are intended to be traced onto the piece of fabric. However, these known batik kits and design booklets are noticeably lacking in any elements or means which enables a user to originate a particular design or display which is to be batiked. It is believed that under many circumstances the user of a batik kit will be desirous of displaying his name or any other name, such as that of the recipient of a gift, on the fabric and in a particular arrangement such as in simulation of a totem pole. It is also believed that if a batik kit is provided which includes a set of forms of letters of the alphabet, a user will be led to originate designs other than names by using the form as elements of such design.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view the following objectives:

1. To provide a batik kit which includes, in addition to the conventional and essential components which are now recognized as necessary in the practice of batiking, a transfer sheet and a set of forms of the letters of the alphabet.

2. To provide, in a batik kit of the type noted, instructions which will guide the user in use of the transfer sheet and letter forms in originating a name that is displayed in a particular way and for other designs derived from the letter forms.

3. To provide, in a batik kit of the character of the type aforesaid, a transfer sheet in the form of a sheet of kraft paper which is readily adapted to have stenciled areas cut therefrom.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above ideas in a practical embodiment, will, in part, become apparent and, in part, be hereafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a batik kit comprising a casing in which is packed a piece of fabric of a desired size and shape, a piece of kraft paper which preferably corresponds in size and shape to the fabric, a plurality of bars of colored wax which are susceptible of being melted, a plurality of artist paint brushes, a bar of colorless wax which is meltable, a water soluble background dye of a desired color, a color fixer for the dye, a set of forms of the letters of the alphabet and instructions on how to use the kit.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a batik kit made in accordance with the precepts of this invention with portions of the casing broken away to permit of illustration of the contents thereof.

FIG. 2 is a plan detail showing how letter forms are positioned on the paper sheet so that their outlines may be traced thereon.

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective depicting how the paper sheet is folded and stenciled areas cut therefrom.

FIG. 4 is another detailed perspective illustrating the paper sheet as unfolded and spaced above the piece of fabric.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart setting out the various steps involved in using the kit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective showing the first step of folding the paper sheet to make a name design different from that disclosed in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 7 is another perspective illustrating the next folding step for this design.

FIG. 8 is a perspective of the next folding step.

FIG. 9 is a perspective of the final folding step.

FIG. 10 is a perspective showing the application of outlines of letter forms to one panel of the folded sheet of paper, and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of one quarter of the sheet of paper after the stenciled areas have been cut from the folded forms of FIG. 10 and the latter unfolded to provide a so-called "name flake" pattern.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Before referring to the illustrations of the drawing, it is to be noted that certain instrumentalities required in the use of the subject batik kit are not disclosed as being packed in the casing because such devices are commonly available in any household or other place where the kit might be used. Among such devices the following are noted: a pencil, a pair of scissors, a source of heat for melting the wax, paper towels, and a pressing iron. Referring now to the drawing, and first more particularly to FIG. 1, a case is identified in its entirety by the reference character 10. This case may be of any shape found appropriate but the rectangular form illustrated may be taken as the preferred embodiment. Casing 10 includes bottom 11 from which upstand end walls 12 and side walls 13. Casing 10 will be closed by lid 14 after the contents thereof are packed thereinto. Spaced inwardly of the upper edges of end walls 12 and side walls 13 is a false bottom 15. Packed in the space below this false bottom 15 at one end is a so-called foundation sheet 16 which preferably is a fabric such as a soft cotton. While this fabric piece 16 may be of any desired size and shape, a rectangle is indicated as the preferred shape. Needless to say it is folded into a compact structure as illustrated in FIG. 1 to facilitate packing.

Also stowed in casing 10 beneath false bottom 15 is a sheet of transfer paper 17 which preferably is kraft paper. Sheet 17 is also depicted as folded into a compact shape and while it is not essential, it is preferably of the same size and shape as fabric sheet 16.

Above the area occupied by paper 17, false bottom 15 is cutaway or deformed to provide a recess 18 for receiving a plurality of bars of wax. Four of these bars which are designated 19 are colored with the color of each bar being different from the color of the other bars. The fifth bar which is designated 20 is uncolored. All of these bars are susceptible of being melted with the application of heat thereto.

False bottom 15 is also formed with a recess at 21 which receives a set of artist paint brushes 22.

Between recess 21 and the outer end wall 12, false bottom 15 is formed with a cutout which receives a heating pan 23. While details of the heating pan 23 are not an essential part of the subject invention, it is noted that it is of the so-called double boiler type. Thus it comprises a lower receptacle 24 which is intended to be placed over a suitable source of heat such as the top of a stove and a tray 25 which is positioned on the top of receptacle 24. Tray 25 is formed with an access opening 26 which permits water to be poured into receptacle 24 or removed therefrom. It is also formed with four top cup shaped elements 27 each of which receives wax from one of the colored bars 19.

At one side of heating pan 23 false bottom 15 is formed with a cutout 28 which accommodates a stack of letter forms 29. As the alphabet contains twenty-six letters, the stack of forms 29 will rest on bottom 11 and extend upwardly through cutout 28.

Preferred Mode of Usage

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the preferred manner of using the above described kit is set forth as follows:

Paper sheet 17 is first folded in half defining a center fold line 30. This step is represented by the block 31 in FIG. 5. A letter form 29 is then placed on sheet 17 with the base of the letter at fold line 30. The area of the letter is then outlined on sheet 17 as by a pencil. This process is repeated with the letters which make up a particular name. This step of applying and tracing the letter forms is represented by the block 32 in FIG. 5. Paper sheet 17 is then folded along fold line 30 as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the outlined areas cut from both plies of the sheet as by using a pair of scissors. This step is represented by the block 33 in FIG. 5.

Fabric 16 is unfolded into a flat state and placed on a suitable supporting surface whereupon paper 17 is unfolded into a flat condition and placed over fabric 16. The outline of the stenciled areas on paper 17 are then traced onto fabric 16 as depicted in FIG. 4, this step being represented by block 34 of FIG. 5. Heating pan 23 with water and a small quantity of sugar added thereto to raise its boiling temperature is placed over a source of heat and portions of wax which have been cut from colored bars 19 placed in cups 27. Heat is applied to the pan 23 until the wax is melted. This step of melting the wax is represented by the block 25 in FIG. 5. Paint brushes 22 are now employed to paint desired stencil areas on fabric 16 with a particular color. The particular colors used will, of course, depend on the artistry of the user. The painting of the stencil areas is represented by the block 36 in FIG. 5.

Fabric 16 is now turned over to bring its back or reversed face into a position whereupon any of the stencil areas which have been painted and which include portions which have not been penetrated by the colored wax are touched up. This touching up may be either by wax of the particular color for that area or by the uncolored wax which has been melted, the latter step being preferred. This touching up step is represented by the block 37 in FIG. 5. Casing 10 will also have packed therein a water soluble dye of a particular color to provide a desired background. This dye is disolved in water with step being represented at 38 in FIG. 5.

Fabric 16 is now crinkled to form a plurality of lines or creases in a heterogeneous arrangement and is immersed in the solution of dye and water. This step of crinkling and immersion is depicted by block 39 in FIG. 5. The fabric is left so immersed for a time sufficient to permit the dye to become fully set in the fabric which ordinarily will be about 8 to 10 minutes. The fabric is then removed from the dye solution and drained to remove all excess dye solution therefrom. This may be accomplished by placing the fabric over any piece of absorbent paper such as newspaper. This drainage step is represented at 40.

Fabric 16 is then washed and drained as indicated at 41 in FIG. 5. Fabric 16 is now flattened and pressed between two sheets of paper towels by a warm iron. This step is represented by 42 in FIG. 5.

Casing 10 also includes a color fixer which is then applied in step 43. The fabric is then mounted in any desired manner which is the final step as indicated at 44. This mounting may be in a frame, on a board, on a pillow, or by including it in curtains, drapes or screens. It is important to note that the name which is displayed simulates a totem pole when the series of letters are displayed in a vertical position.

Method of Achieving "Name Flake" Design

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 6 to 11 inclusive, the method of forming a so-called "name flake" design will be described. The steps involved are a particular manner of folding paper sheet 17 which are interposed between the blocks 31 and 32 of FIG. 5. Thus paper sheet 17 is first folded in half to present the fold line 30 as shown in FIG. 6.

The sheet which now presents two plies is then folded in half to present an additional fold line as indicated at 45 in FIG. 7. Thus it then has four plies. This four-ply structure is then folded along the line 46 as it appears in FIG. 7 into the formation of FIG. 8 which will include eight plies terminating at point 47 with flaps 48 at the edge remote from point 47. This construction of FIG. 8 is then folded along the lines represented at 49 in FIG. 7 into the construction of FIG. 9 which comprises sixteen plies each of which includes a triangular shaped panel 50. Two of these panel 50 will be exposed and on one of them stencils derived from letter forms 29 are traced as shown in FIG. 10. This step corresponds to the step 32 of FIG. 5. It is important to note that the last letter will terminate at a point spaced from point 47. All of the panels 50 are then cut simultaneously by a pair of scissors in a manner generally corresponding to the cutting depicted in FIG. 3. The same steps represented by blocks 34 to 44 inclusive of FIG. 5 are then conducted. This results in a final design on the fabric which simulates a flake and in view of the fact that this flake comprises separate spokes 51 which radiate from a center as determined by the uncut area adjacent to point 47 which is represented at 52 and each of which is a name displayed as a totem pole this design is designated "name flake."

It is important to note that kit 10 also contains instruction booklet 52 which is based on the steps outlined in FIG. 5.

It is also important to note that designs other than names may be generated from the letter forms. Thus signs of the Zodiac may be derived therefrom as well as an infinite number of other designs.

While a preferred specific embodiment is herein disclosed, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction, devices and steps illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a batik kit including a casing receiving the following elements

a. a transfer sheet of paper,

b. a set of letter forms for placement on said sheet of paper in a desired arrangement to have the outline of the so arranged forms inscribed on the paper and the areas outlined on the sheet removed by cutting,

c. a foundation sheet on which said paper sheet is placed, with the stenciled areas outlined thereon in a flat condition, whereby the outlined areas on the paper sheet are outlined on said foundation sheet,

d. a plurality of bars of wax of different colors and which are susceptible of being melted by heat,

e. a plurality of artist paint brushes for applying melted colored wax to desired outlined ares on said foundation sheet,

f. a bar of colorless wax which is meltable and which is applied to areas of said foundation sheet on the face opposite to that to which the colored wax has been applied and which areas have not been penetrated by the colored wax,

g. a water soluble background dye of a desired color, said sheet with the areas thereof impregnated by wax being immersible in said dye when so dissolved, and

h. a color fixer for setting said dye.

2. The batik kit of claim 1 in which the transfer sheet is a stencil sheet of paper from which outlined areas of the forms are removed therefrom by cutting.

3. A batik kit of claim 1 in which the foundation sheet is fabric.

4. The batik kit of claim 3 in which the fabric sheet is soft cotten.

5. The batik kit of claim 1 in which the transfer sheet and foundation sheet are of the same size and shape.

6. The batik kit of claim 1 together with an instruction booklet included in the casing.

7. The batik kit of claim 1 in which the casing is rectangular and comprises a bottom, end and side walls, a false bottom, and a lid with the foundation sheet and transfer sheet being packed in said casing between said bottom and false bottom in a folded condition, the wax bars being received in a recess in the false bottom, the paint brushes in a recess in the false bottom, and the letter forms arranged in a stack resting on said bottom and extending through a cutout in the false bottom.

8. The batik kit of claim 7 together with a heating pan mounted on a cutout in said false bottom.

9. The batik kit of claim 1 together with a heating pan for melting said wax bars.

10. The batik kit of claim 8 in which the heating pan comprises a lower receptacle adapted to contain water and a tray mounted thereon formed with a plurality of cup shaped recesses.