EP2553164A2

EP2553164A2 - A production method of an accessory for a clothing article and accessory so obtained

Info

Publication number: EP2553164A2
Application number: EP11725508A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gregorio Valli
Original assignee: Metalbottoni SpA
Current assignee: Metalbottoni SpA
Priority date: 2010-04-02
Filing date: 2011-03-29
Publication date: 2013-02-06
Also published as: IT1399137B1; ITMI20100567A1; WO2011121533A2; WO2011121533A3

Abstract

An accessory (7) for clothing articles is shown, obtained by moulding, including a layer of fabric (5) and characterized in that it comprises a face in sight, provided with at least one relief (8) of a moulding material and an face for the application to the clothing article opposed to the face in sight and at least partially coated by a layer (9) of said moulding material, integrally connected with the relief material.

Description

"Method for the production of an accessory for clothing articles and accessory so obtained"

The present invention relates to the fields of clothing, footwear, leather goods, bags and like. In particular, the present invention refers to the production of accessories or parts of articles of the above cited fields.

Labels for clothing items are known, made of leather on which an engraving is made, typically an hot working, corresponding to graphic or alphanumeric symbols, for example indicative of the logo of the enterprise producing or distributing the clothing item.

Document US-A-2007-0289712 describes a method for labelling trousers employing a label formed of a layer of fabric, an intermediate layer of synthetic heat-resistant resin, an adhesive transferring layer of thermoplastic resin with a high melting point and a rear release layer. The labeling of trousers occurs by means of a transferring procedure of colors or drawings utilizing a heating/pressing phase of the label briefly described before.

Document EP-1,216,807 describes a method for producing a panel made of a base of fabric supporting an elastomeric layer, penetrated inside the fabric, having a modeled resilient shaped surface, such panel being provided for partially or completely coating the surface of objects, for example suitcases and sport clothing articles such and shoes and track- suits, in order to protect said articles from impacts or form anti-slip surfaces upon them but not labels applicable on clothing articles .

Document US-4,735,753 relates to a method for forming a fixing element or automatic button of a plastic material directly on a porous material by melting said plastic material which partially penetrates in the porous material and partially remains at the surface where it is shaped in order to form the fixing element.

Summary of the invention

For the aims of the present invention, as clothing articles not only clothing items are meant, but also footwear, leather goods, bags and the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for the production of accessories for a clothing article as an alternative to the known ones and which permits to produce accessories conjugating an adequate aesthetic effect with satisfactory performances in terms of resistance to washing and other stresses .

The object indicated above is reached by a method as defined in the annexed claim 1 and by its particular embodiments defined in the dependent claims 2 to 8.

An other object of the invention is also an accessory for a clothing article as defined in claim 6 and by its particular embodiments described in claims 7 and 8.

The present invention will hereafter described in detail, in an exemplary and non limiting way, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a matrix of a die provided with cavities or grooves according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of said matrix, in which a layer of fabric and a batch of press-moulding material are housed;

Figure 3a shows a plan view of said matrix containing the layer of fabric and the batch;

Figure 3b shows a cross-section according to the axis B-B of the matrix of Figure 3a;

Figure 3c shows an enlargement of a portion C of the view in cross-section of Figure 3b;

Figure 4a shows a plan view of a label according to an example of the invention;

Figure 4b shows a cross-section according to the axis A-A of the label of Figure 4a;

Figure 5 shows an exemplary label obtained with a method of compression moulding according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6a shows a plan view of further embodiment of the matrix of Figure 3a containing a reinforcing mesh in addition to the layer of fabric and to the batch;

Figure 6b shows a plan view of a label according to said further embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6c shows a cross-section according to the axis A-A of the label of Figure 6b.

Detailed description

With reference to the annexed figures, an exemplary embodiment of a method for producing an accessory for clothing articles will be described below. As specified before, as clothing articles, not only clothing items are meant, but also footwear, leather goods, bags and similar. With the term of accessory, as a clothing article both the complete accessory and parts of an accessory are meant, or parts of the article itself.

In this example reference is made to the produc- tion of a label to apply to a clothing item such as in particular a label destined to be applied on the rear part of the positioning area of the belt of trousers in order to be visible.

According to this embodiment, the label is produced by means of a compression moulding utilizing a per se conventional press (consequently not shown) acting upon a mould comprising a punch (not shown) and a matrix 1 , shown in Figure 1.

The matrix 1 (for example of ferrous material) is provided with an aperture which gives access to a hollow region 2 reproducing in negative the overall shape of the accessory to be obtained. In particular, the hollow region 2 is provided with a support surface 3 in which one or more cavities 4 are worked (for example, by means of a mechanical operation), as for example grooves .

Such cavities 4 reproduce in negative the shape of graphical representations, ornamentals, graphical and/or alphanumeric symbols which must appear in relief on the label. For example, such graphics are representative of the logo of a particular producer of clothing items. In the exemplary case here described, the cavities 4 reproduce the wording " ETALBOTTONI " . The matrix 1 can have on the support surface 3 not only cavities but also some reliefs; the punch 1 is suitably counter-shaped.

The method includes a phase or step at which a layer of fabric 5 (for example, with a rectangular shape) is placed on the support surface 3 (Figures 2 and 3) . In particular, the layer of fabric 5 is made of fibers/materials of various origin (natural or synthetic) . The layer of fabric 5 can be obtained by weaving or knitting works and it can also be a nonwo- ven fabric, but in any case such to define some interstices among the its fibers /materials , also but not necessarily perceptible to the naked eye.

A first face of the layer of fabric 5 is therefore faced to the cavities 4, whereas one of its second faces, opposite to the first, is looking towards the outside of the hollow region 2.

As shown also in the views in Figure 3 , on the second face of the layer of fabric 5, a charge of moulding material 6 is placed. Such a moulding material can be at least one of the materials chosen among rubber, silicone-based materials, thermoplastics materials, thermosetting materials and the like.

Subsequently, the matrix 1 is closed by its punch and the mould so formed is suitably fixed to the press. Then, a compression moulding phase occurs together with an increase of the temperature of the charge of moulding material 6.

The increase of temperature is obtained, in particular, due to a direct heating (for example of the electric type) of the die as well as caused by the compression action. This thermal increase (for example, up to approximately 200°C) causes a softening of the charge 6 which were initially at the solid state or near at the solid state. Furthermore, due to the compression action, the material for moulding the charge 6 is forced to enter into and through the interstices of the layer of fabric 5. The interstices faced to the cavities 4 are crossed by a portion of the softened moulding material (that is at the solid or soft state) of the charge 6 which flows into the cavities 4, until they are all filled. Where the layer of fabric 5 is faced to the areas of the support surface 3 , the moulding material of the charge 6 does not passes through and outward the interstices of the layer of fabric 5, even if it can flows at least partially through them anchoring itself to the fabric .

On the second face of the layer of fabric, the moulding material of the charge 6 is forced against the layer of fabric 5 and therefore it is forced to assume the shape of the hollow region 2. Due to this moulding action, the material of the charge 6 comes to form a coating of the second face of the layer of fabric 5.

Once the compression phase is finished, it is necessary to allow to cool the die and of its containing, and then the label 7 (Figure 4) can be removed from the die and an optional finishing working can be done.

The label 7 so obtained by the method described hereinbefore is therefore provided with one or more reliefs 8 (corresponding to the cavities 4) of moulding material (for example rubber or silicone) and placed on the first face of the layer of fabric 5, and therefore on the face that results in sight, for instance, when the label is applied to the clothing item.

The second face of the layer of fabric 5 is coated (or at least partially coated) by a rear coating 9 obtained by compressing the moulding material. It is to be noted that the reliefs 8 and the coating 9 are directly and mutually connected from portions of the same moulding material (not visible) extending through the interstices of the layer of fabric 5, that is to say the reliefs 8 and the rear coating 9 form an integral piece even if they are on opposite faces of the layer of fabric 5.

By observing the label 7 as shown in Figure 4a we can see that on the same face both the reliefs 8 forming the label METALBOTTONI and the layer of fabric 5 surrounding each letter of the reliefs 8 are visible. The aesthetic effect associated to the possibility to see on the same face of the label 7 both the relief symbols 8, of moulding material, and the areas of fabric 5 can be better appreciated from Figure 5. If the matrix 1 has also some reliefs and not only the cavities 4 on the label 7, also some cavities will be visible in the layer of fabric 5 which can contribute to the improvement of the representation of graphical and/or alphanumeric symbols desired.

The label 7 may therefore put on a clothing item, for example by means of a sewing, made along its edges, which crosses both the layer of fabric 5 and the rear coating 9 so that the face having the reliefs 8 is visible.

It should be noted however that the labels of- fabric, associated with rubber or other similar natural or synthetic material, are usually sewn at the limit of its outer edge, and therefore this operation forms some cuttings and holes due to the sewing needle which, after a plurality of washings, cause breakings in the rubber and in some cases they cause the detachment of the label due to the fact that the natural rubber, in particular the silicone, has a little cutting resistance. This negative characteristic is as more pronounced as more reduced is the thickness of the label .

Therefore, according to a variation of the embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figures 6a-6c, a solution to this problem is given, consisting in providing a reinforcing net 10, metallic or in a plastic or textile material, which is laid on the layer of fabric so that it is printed together with the combination rubber/fabric . Such net, even remaining on the rear of the label, is permeated by the rubber and it acts as a reinforce, avoiding the tearing of the rubber. Nevertheless such reinforcing action does not alter the characteristics of flexibility and easy application to the clothing item or other article by the current industrial and non industrial sewing machines . A depression along the peripheral edge of the label forming a sewing channel 11 is in addition provided, having the aim of guiding the sewing machine in the phase of application of the la- bel to the clothing item, this latter intended in its broader scope comprising also the clothing accessories .

It is to be noted that, as alternative to the over described compression moulding, other types of moulding can be used, such as for example the injection moulding. In connection with the compression moulding, the presence of shaping reliefs/cavities also on the punch is not excluded.

The above described label has great advantages with respect to the ones today known; in fact beside the aesthetic effect, associated with the presence of reliefs on the background fabric, the rear layer 9 in moulding material confers a particular resistance to the whole accessory 7 and the reliefs 8 representative of the graphical motifs are even them particularly resistant to washing and other mechanical stresses .

The above described moulding procedure (preferably but non exclusively based on the compression moulding) can also be used for manufacturing buttons or other accessories such as frogs, hooking means, buckles, pendants, loops and parts of the clothing item itself which are traditionally made only of fabric, such as pockets, patches, linings, inserts and others .

In. a similar way as per the label 7, a button obtained according to the above described method will have a rear face, coated with the moulding material 9 and a front face, which makes visible a relief 8 in moulding material on a background of fabric 5. Furthermore, in the phase of loading of material in the die, it is possible to insert in the die itself a fixing element (for instance a metallic hook) connected to the fabric and/or to be incorporated in the moulding material; such metallic element will permit to fix the button to the clothing item. The possibility to include, inside the die, metallic inserts having functional property, for example for fixing the accessory to the clothing article and/or for aesthetics, because at some areas the metal would be visible under the fabric or even at sight, and this happens for any kind of accessory or for parts of the same, and not only for buttons .

In the fabrication of the accessory 7 (label, button or others) is also possible that not all the cavities 4 are filled directly with the moulding material 6 at the softened state; it is also possible that some cavities 4 can be coated by a part of the layer of fabric 5 and the cavity formed by such layer is filled with the moulding material which in any case does not pass through the fabric. In this case the accessory 7 has on its front face (that is to say the one in sight) also one or more parts of fabric in relief .

The described method can also be made in automated way with a management of the various phases controlled by a controlling and monitoring equipment.

The present invention is finally susceptible of various modifications and variations, all falling in the annexed claims, whereas the technical details can vary according to the needs .

Claims

1. A method for the production of an accessory (7) to be applied to a clothing article and apt to show graphical representations, ornamentals, graphical or alphanumeric symbols indicating for example the logo of the enterprise producing or distributing the clothing item, such as labels, attachable to a clothing item and visible when the item has been worn, buttons, frogs, loops, hooking means, buckles, pendants and parts of the clothing item such as pockets, profiles, linings, collars, and lapels, comprising the phases of :

providing a die, in which at least the support surface (3) of its matrix (1) is provided with at least one cavity or relief (4) reproducing in negative said graphical or alphanumeric symbols (4) ;

placing a layer of fabric (5) on said support surface;

arranging a charge of moulding material (6) on said layer of fabric (5) ;

making a moulding step by subjecting said charge to an increase of temperature, so that at least one portion of the charge passes through and outward the layer of the fabric by penetrating in said at least one cavity and taking its shape; removing from the die said accessory including the layer of fabric resulting from the moulding step and provided with a relief (8) , corresponding to said cavity, of moulding material on a first face, and having on a second face at least one coating portion ( 9 ) of said moulding material .

2. The method according to claim 1, in which on the layer of fabric (5) a reinforcing net (10) of a metal or plastic material is arranged, which in the moulding phase is penetrated by the rubber so causing its firm bonding with the layer of fabric.

3. The method according to claims 1 and 2 , in which:

said moulding phase comprises a moulding compression phase in order to press the charge of moulding material against the layer of fabric and/or the reinforcing net.

4. The method according to one or more preceding claims, in which the accessory removed from the die further provides on its first face at least a region of fabric free from said moulding material .

5. The method according to one or more preceding claims, in which said matrix is provided with at least one further cavity and/or moulding relief able to be coated after the moulding step by the layer of fabric deformed in order to create, respectively, a further relief and/or another cavity in the fabric on said second face.

6. Accessories for clothing articles, such as labels, which can be applied to a clothing item and are visible when the item is worn, buttons, frogs, loops, hooking means, buckles, pendants and parts of the clothing item, such as pockets, profiles, linings, collars and lapels obtained by moulding and including a layer of fabric, comprising:

a face in sight provided with at least one relief (8) of a moulding material reproducing distinctive ornamental and/or graphical patterns, representing for example the logo of the enterprise producing or distributing the clothing item, and

an application face of the clothing article opposed to the face in sight and at least partially coated with a layer (9) of said moulding material integrally connected with the material of the relief.

7. An accessory according to claim 6, further having on the face in sight at least one region of fabric free from said moulding material .

8. The accessory according to claim 6 or 7, in which the face in sight has a portion of the layer of fabric which is in relief, so defining on the appli- cation face an opposite cavity filled with said moulding material .