WO2020006053A1

WO2020006053A1 - Fabric treatment device

Info

Publication number: WO2020006053A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/039202
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dimitri Protopsaltis; Lindsay PROTOPSALTIS
Original assignee: Dimitri Protopsaltis; Protopsaltis Lindsay
Priority date: 2018-06-26
Filing date: 2019-06-26
Publication date: 2020-01-02

Abstract

A fabric treatment device including a base having a perimeter sidewall forming an interior. A bottom plate is removeably secured to the base. A carriage slide is operably connected to the base, and the carriage slide has an opening extending along its length in a first direction. The carriage slide is translatable relative to the base in a second direction, wherein the second direction is generally orthogonal to the first direction. A carriage assembly is slidably disposed on the carriage slide and movable along the length of the opening. The carriage assembly is movable along the first and second directions, the carriage assembly including an abrading device operably connected to an abrasive tip. The carriage slide is pivotal with respect to the base to allow the abrasive tip to be moved closer and away from the bottom plate.

Description

FABRIC TREATMENT DEVICE

[001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.

62/690,112, filed on June 26, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[002] The present disclosure relates to a device for the treatment of fabric. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a device for abrading the surface of a fabric in a controlled manner to form a design.

BACKGROUND

[003] It is been fashionable to decorate clothing such as pants with different types of decorative designs. It is also been fashionable to treat pants, particularly denim pants or jackets, by intentionally, cutting, fraying or ripping portions. While frayed portions of the fabric can be created by cutting the fabric, there has been heretofore no controlled way of inducing a frayed pattern on denim or other fabric in an efficient manner.

[004] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for treating fabric in order to create a frayed design.

SUMMARY

[005] The present disclosure provides a device for treating fabric.

[006] The present disclosure provides a device for treating fabric by abrading the surface in order to create a design thereon.

[007] The present disclosure provides a fabric treatment device including a base having a perimeter sidewall forming an interior. A bottom plate is removeably secured to the base. A carriage slide is operably connected to the base, and the carriage slide has an opening extending along its length in a first direction. The carriage slide is translatable relative to the base in a second direction, wherein the second direction is generally orthogonal to the first direction. A carriage assembly is slidably disposed on the carriage slide and movable along the length of the opening. The carriage assembly is movable along the first and second directions, the carriage assembly including an abrading device operably connected to an abrasive tip. The carriage slide is pivotal with respect to the base to allow the abrasive tip to be moved closer and away from the bottom plate.

[008] The present disclosure provides a method for treating a fabric including:

placing fabric to be treated over a plate;

placing the plate within a base including a plurality of perimeter walls, the base having an open bottom for receiving the plate;

securing the plate and fabric within the base;

operating an abrading device secured to the base in a movable and a guided first direction and a guided second direction, wherein the first and second directions are substantially orthogonal to each other;

pivoting the abrasion device into engagement with the fabric; and

moving the abrading device with respect to the fabric in order to abrade the fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fabric treatment device of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fabric treatment device.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the fabric treatment device.

[0012] FIG. 3A is a side elevational detail view of the carriage slide.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the treatment device.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the fabric treatment device taken through line

5-5 of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view showing an abrading device operating on a fabric.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a plurality of views of abrasive tips.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a detail view of a collet and abrasive tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, a fabric treatment device 10 is shown. The fabric treatment device 10 includes a containment base 12 and a carriage assembly 14. The carriage assembly 14 rides within a carriage slide 16 pivotally connected to the base 12. The carriage assembly 14 includes a rotary abrading device 18 having an abrasive tip 20 engagable with a fabric surface 21 to create a design.

[0019] With additional reference to FIG. 2, the containment base 12 may be formed of a plurality of connecting perimeter sidewalls 22 forming an interior 24 and a bottom opening 26. The containment base 12 may be selectively closed at its bottom by a substantially flat support plate 25, which covers the bottom opening 26. The support plate 25 is removeably secured to the containment base 12. One of the containment base sidewalls 22 may include a vertical slot 30 therein extending from the top end of the sidewall 22 to the bottom. The slot 30 defines a gap extending through the sidewall and allows the base 12 to be spread open and clamped closed to selectively release and secure the support plate 25 to the containment base 12.

[0020] With further reference to FIG. 4, the base 12 may include a securement device 32 including a threaded draw rod 34 that may extend across the width, W, of the slot 30. The draw rod 34 may be attached to a turning knob 36, which is rotatably secured to the based 12 by a retaining pin 38. The draw rod 34 extends across the slot 30 into a threaded nut 42 or plate disposed on the opposite side of the slot 30. By actuating the draw rod through turning knob 36, the user may be able to reduce the width of the slot 30 to clamp the support plate 25 to the base 12. The securement device 32 changes the dimensions of the base 12 to permit the support plate 25 to be selectively secured and released with respect thereto. A portion of the fabric 21 to be treated may be placed on top of the support plate 25 prior to insertion into the containment base 12 such that the fabric extends over the sides of the support plate. In an open, unclamped position, the support plate 25 with the fabric 21 thereon may be inserted into the bottom of the containment base 12. Therefore, both the fabric 21 and the plate 25 are inserted into the containment base 12. The draw rod 34 may then be tightened in order to reduce the width of the slot 30, thereby clamping the sidewalls 22 of the containment base around the fabric and the support plate 25 securing them both to the containment base 12, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0021] Two of the opposed base sidewalls, 22a and 22b, at their upper ends may each include a linear slot 50 extending therethrough. The slots 50 form a track extending in an X direction, shown in FIG. 1, along which the carriage slide 16 may traverse. The carriage slide 16 may be an elongate member having a central opening 52 extending across the carriage slide’s length, L, and bounded by closed ends 54. The carriage slide 16 is both pivotally and slidably secured to the containment base 12 at its two ends l6a by slide retaining pins 56 shown in FIG> 2. The slide retaining pins 56 extend into the sidewall slots 50 and permit the carriage slide 16 to traverse back and forth over the base interior. When the carriage slide 16 is secured to the base 12, the elongate opening 52 extends in a Y direction generally orthogonal to the X direction.

The retaining pins 56 also permit the carriage slide 16 to pivot relative to the base about an axis extending in the Y direction.

[0022] The carriage slide 16 is also pivotably secured to the containment base 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the carriage slide 16 may include a pivot surface 58, which rides on top surface 59 of the adjacent sidewall to permit a user to pivot the carriage assembly 14 in the controlled manner. The pivoting surface 58 may include a carriage pivot stop 60, which limits the rotation of the carriage slide 16 relative to the containment base 12.

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the carriage assembly 14 may be slidably secured to the carriage slide 16. The carriage assemblyl4 may include housing 62 enclosing the abrading device 18. The abrading device 18 may include a motor 64 and an AC or DC power source 66.

If the power is supplied by batteries, they may be secured in the housing by a battery cover 69.

A switch 67 may be operated by a user to activate the motor 64. The motor 64 may operably connected to the shaft 68 terminating in the abrasive tip 20. The shaft 68 may be positionally offset from a housing support portion 72 having a surface 74, which slides upon the carriage slide top surface 76. The carriage assembly 14 may include a gripping surface 78 in order to permit a user to manipulate the carriage assembly 14. The carriage assembly 14 may further include a post 80, which extends downwardly into the carriage slide opening 52. A support retaining plate 82 slidingly retains the carriage assembly in the carriage slide opening 52. The retaining plate 82 may include a fastener such as a screw (not shown) which engages the post 80.

[0024] When retained in the carriage slide 16, the carriage assembly 14 is free to move in a guided manner within the containment base 12 in either the X or Y direction. Thus, the carriage slide 16 permits the abrasive tip 20 to be moved along the X and Y direction and to pivot into and out of engagement with the fabric surface 21. This provides for a controlled motion of the abrasive tip 20 in order to permit a user to engage and abrade the fabric 21 in a particular desired pattern. When the abrasive tip 20 is rotating and brought into engagement with the fabric 21, the abrasive action wears away the fabric leaving thereon a design.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 7-8, the abrasive tip 20 may be a rounded bulbous member formed of sandpaper, stone, or other abrasive material. The tip may be removeably secure to the end of the shaft 68 to allow a user to change the abrasive tip 20. The abrasive tip may be changed when it begins to wear out. Alternatively, it is contemplated that a variety of abrasive tips having different levels of abrasion may be provided in order to give the user various abrasion options. In one embodiment, the abrasive tip may be a cup-shaped member 90 that is pressed on to a resilient end 92 attached to an arbor 94. The arbor 94 may be removeably attached to the end of the shaft 68. The arbor 94 can be pressed on to the end of the shaft or it can be attached using a collet or a chuck of a type as shown in FIG. 8.

[0026] In operation, a user may place the portion of the fabric 21 to be treated over the support plate 25. The containment base 12 having the slot 30 in the open, unclamped position may then be placed over the fabric 21 and the support plate 25 as shown, for example, in FIG. 5. The containment base 12 may then be moved to a clamped state by turning the draw rod 34 and thus narrowing the slot 30. The fabric support plate 25 and overlying fabric 21 are therefore firmly held in place by the containment base 12 beneath the abrading device 18 and abrasive tip

20.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the user may then turn on the motor 66 using a power switch 67 and tilt the carriage assembly 14 until the abrasive tip 20 makes the desired contact with the fabric 21. The user may move the abrasive tip in an X and/or Y direction in order to create the desired pattern. As the abrasive tip 20 is brought into contact with the fabric 21, the fabric is abraded and frayed. The amount of abrading can be varied by the user by applying more or less pressure on the fabric with the abrasive tip 20. It may be desirable first to draw the pattern onto the fabric 21 with a non-staining fabric marker in order to provide guidance to the user when abrading the fabric. Once the fabric 21 is abraded, the outline of the created pattern 96 is visible on the fabric. After the design pattern 96 has been completed, the user may loosen the draw rod 34, thereby unclamping the fabric 21 and support plate 25 from the containment base 12. The fabric 21 may then be removed from the containment base 12.

[0028] For fabrics such as denim, after the fabric is washed, the frayed fibers of the fabric tend to separate and fray even more creating a more visible design. While the treatment device may be used on denim fabric, it is also contemplated that it may used on other fabrics, which may be frayed by way of an abrasive tip in order to create a design.

[0029] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fabric treatment device comprising:

a base having a perimeter sidewall forming an interior;

a bottom plate removeably secured to the base;

a carriage slide operably connected to the base, the carriage slide having an opening extending along its length in a first direction, the carriage slide being translatable relative to the base in a second direction, wherein the second direction is generally orthogonal to the first direction; and

a carriage assembly slidably disposed on the carriage slide and movable along the length of the opening, wherein the carriage assembly is movable along the first and second directions, the carriage assembly including an abrading device operably connected to an abrasive tip, the carriage slide being pivotal with respect to the base to allow the abrasive tip to be moved closer and away from the bottom plate.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes a securement mechanism for releasably securing the bottom plate to the base.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the securement mechanism includes one of the sidewalls including a slot extending along a height thereof and an actuator being movable to close the width of the slot in order to bottom secure the plate to the base.

4. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the plate forms a surface adapted to receive thereon a fabric and the plate securing the fabric to the base upon actuation of the securement mechanism.

5. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the carriage slide includes a pivoting surface engagable with an upper wall of the base, the pivoting surface including a pivot stop which limits the rotation of the carriage assembly.

6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the abrading device includes a motor operably connected to a shaft, the abrasive tip being operably secured to the shaft.

7. The device as defined in claim 6, wherein the abrasive tip is removeable secured to the shaft.

8. The device as defined in claim 6, wherein the shaft is offset from the carriage slide slot.

9. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes a pair of slots disposed on opposed base sidewalls and extending in the second direction, the pair of slots slidingly receiving the carriage slide.

10. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the base is dimensionally adjustable to selectively secure and release the plate therefrom.

11. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the carriage assembly is pivotal about an axis extending in the first direction.

12. A fabric treatment device comprising:

a base having a perimeter sidewall forming an interior;

a bottom plate removeably secured to the base and adapted to support and secure fabric thereon;

an abrading device disposed on the carriage slide and movable along the length of the opening, wherein the abrading device is movable along the first and second directions, the abrading device operably connected to an abrasive tip, the carriage slide being pivotal with respect to the base to allow the abrasive tip to be moved closer and away from the fabric supported on the bottom plate.

13. The device as defined in claim 12, wherein the carriage slide includes a pivot surface which rides on a sidewall top surface to permit the abrading device to be pivoted in the controlled manner, the pivoting surface includes a carriage pivot stop, which limits the rotation of the abrading device relative to the base.

14 A method for treating a fabric comprising:

placing fabric to be treated over a plate;

securing the plate and fabric within the base;

pivoting the abrasion device into engagement with the fabric; and

15. The method as defined in claim 14, including subjecting the abraded fabric to washing after the fabric has been abraded.

16. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the base includes a slot permitting the dimensions of the base to be modified to selectively secure the fabric.

17. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the abrading device is secured to a carriage slide pivotally connected to the base, and wherein the carriage slide permits the abrading device to be pivoted and translated with respect to the fabric secured in the base.

18. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the abrading device is a rotary device with an abrasive tip.

19. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the abrading device is translatable along a first and second axis which are generally perpendicular to each other.