GB2256358A

GB2256358A - Decorative item

Info

Publication number: GB2256358A
Application number: GB9211090A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-04
Filing date: 1992-05-22
Publication date: 1992-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-22
Also published as: GB2256358B; GB9211090D0

Abstract

A decorative item e.g. a bridal head-dress, Fig. 1, comprises a length of braid 4 having inserted therein at least one decorative component 8 which has an attachment end 12 for such purpose. The item may be manufactured by using a circular braider, Fig. 4, wherein the threads 20 from bobbins 16 are braided at point 22 around a wire filament 6, and the attachment ends of decorative components are introduced into the braiding as appropriate. <IMAGE>

Description

DECORATIVE ITEM Background to the Invention The present invention relates to decorative items and especially, though not exclusively, to decorative items of clothing and more especially, though not exclusively, to head-dresses (eg bridal headdresses).

Conventional decorative items, in particular bridal head-dresses, comprise a wire bent into a semi-circle or a circle and forming the band of the head-dress; and the individual artificial flowers or other decorations which are bound to the band. Traditionally, the flower "stems" run along the band and the binding envelops the band to the stem and is substantially continuous from one end of the band to the other.

The binding materials usually used are either adhesive paper tape or polyester threads. The paper tape is cheaper, the polyester thread much more attractive because it can be had not only in a range of colours but also in a range of sheen-style finishes. The process, which is traditionally a hand-binding one, can in fact be mechanised, but the opportunity for mechanisatlon is limited by tulle fact that each individual flower '1stem" has to be bound securely in place before the next one can be positioned, and then bound similarly; and so the binding machine has to be constantly stopped and started. Furthermore, this restricts the possible spacings between the individual flowers.

Additionally, whilst this construction does give some degree of versatility it tends to be very labour-intensive (which increases costs) and also the appearance of the known head-dresses is not as impressive as might be desired for an occasion such as a wedding.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or obviate the disadvantages of known decorative items referred to above.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is therefore provided a decorative item colnprising a plurality of threads bound to form a length of braid and at least one decorative component having a decorative end and an attaclllncnt end wherein the decorative component is attached to the braid by the winding of said threads about the attachment end.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a head-dress comprising a length of circular braid and at least one decoration stem having an attachment end, the end being secured in place by the braid.

In each of the aspects of the invention described above the decoration stem may conveniently end in a head (which may be a flower-head).

In each of the aspects of the invention described above the attachment end of the stem may be secured in place by binding the braiding material about the stem.

In each of the above aspects of the invention a self-supporting filament may be provided within the circular braid; the filament is preferably plastically deformable and will normally comprise a length of wire. The wire may be covered with a Rayon (Trade Hark) material, a circular braid or be coated with a plastics material.

In one aspect of the invention a self-supporting filament may be provided within the circular braid without the inclusion of a decorative component so as to provide for the production of a head band or alice band. In this embodiment the threads of the braid are selected for their size, sheen and colour so as to provide for a head band or alice band which has an appealing patent/stroke colour of threads bound about it.

A decorative item, a decorative item of clothing or a head-dress as described above tends to secure the attachment end of the stem of the decoration tightly within tlie braid and provides a more aesthetically appealing product.

In further aspects the invention provides a method of producing any of the aspects of the invention described above; the method comprising forming a length of circular braid, the braid being substantially formed at a braid point; the braiding threads extending from a number of carriers to the braid point to define a braiding cone; inserting at least part of the attachment end of a decorative component into the braid cone whilst maintaining at least part of the attachment end outside the braid cone; and securing the attachment end of the decorative component in place by binding the braiding threads about the attachment end by carrying out the circular braiding process.

Where the decoration includes a head (such as a flower) at one end of the stem, that head is maintained outside the braid cone.

In the method described above the circular braid is preferably formed about a self-supporting filament which is preferably plastically deformable. Normally the filament will comprise a length of wire. The wire may be covered with a Rayon (Trade Mark) material, a circular braid or be coated with a plastics material.

This method provides a convenient method of producing decorative items, decorative items of clothing and head-dresses; the end results being particularly pleasing to the eye.

Preferably the rate at which the attachment end of the stem of the decoration is inserted into the braid cone is substantially constant enabling timing of the manoeuvre to dictate the position of placement of the end of the decoration within the braid cone. Dy using suitable timing means which may be computerised the position of a flower on a head-dress, for example, may be precisely and automatically set.

The invention also includes within its scope, in another aspect, a decorative item, a decorative item of clothing and a head-dress produced as the product of any of the niethods described above.

In yet further aspects the invention provides a circular braiding machine adapted to produce decorative items, decorative items of clothing and/or head-dresses; the machine including a hole through the centre of the carrier deck for supplying a self-supporting filament normally wire - to the braiding point.

Preferably the machine includes clip means for attachment to the haul-off of the braid; and tension means for pulling the completed braid away frorn the braid point. Conveniently the tension means comprises a drum coupled to the carrier drive such that the drum operates when the carrier drive operates. Preferably a clutch is interposed between the drum and the carrier driving means whereby the action of the drum may be halted whilst the driving means is in operation.

Preferably the machine is a benchtop machine and it will be understood that the machine can be used to produce florist sundries generally.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow; in which: Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a head-dress in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line II-II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a circular braider partly illustrating the operation of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic front view of a circular braider further illustrating the operation of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The invention is described in relation to a head-dress, although the principles outlined are applicable to all of the aspects of the present invention as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Refcrring now to ligures 1 aiid 2 of the drawings that follow there Is shown a head-dress in the form of a generally semi-circular band 2 comprising a length of circular braid 4 about a self-supporting plastically deformable wire 6 and a number of decorations 8.

The braid 4 is manufactured on a generally conventional braiding iiacliine by multiplexing four or more threads fed from individual bobbins as described below in relation to Figure 3. The wire 6 may be produced from any suitable (usually metallic) material and can be covered with a Rayon (Trade Mark) material, a circular braid or be coated with a plastics material if desired. The ends of the circular braid 4 are sewn or heat welded shut at either end of the length of wire 6.

The decorations 8 comprise a floral head 10 and a stem 12 having an attachment end and a head 10. The stem 12 is secured in place by the braid 4 by passing through the braid and becoming bound therein. Part of the stem 12 projects from the braid 4 and ends in the head 10 which is securely attached to the wire 6 by the braid.

In use, the head-dress can be deformed to fit snugly to a user's head by bending and flexing the wire support 6. Stems 12 of different lengths outside the braid 4 may be provided for different levels of ostentation.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings that follow there is shown schematically the tmaypoletg section of a conventional circular braider operating in accordance with the present invention. On a deck 14 eight carriers 16 are shown within which are bobbins (not shown) of braiding material - items in accordance with the present invention have, to date, been produced using a sixteen-carrier braider, an eightcarrier braider is illustrated for convenience; the principles remain unchanged.

The carriers 1G move along generally serpentine pathways in tracks 18.

The braiding material 20 extends from the carriers 16 to the braiding point 22 from which the circular braid is hauled-off. A braiding cone 24 is defined by the generally conical area enclosed by the braiding material 20 (as it extends to the braiding point 22) at any one time.

Located approximately centrally in the deck 14 is a hole running from one side of the deck 14 to the other. A cylindrical tube 26 projects from the periphery of the hole. A spool of wire 6 is located beneath the deck 14, a length of wire 6 runs up through the tube 26 through the braiding point 22 such that the braid 4 forms about, and surrounds, tlie longitudinal surface of, the wire 6.

Figure 4 also shows a drum 28 connected to a clip 30 via a pulley 32 by a thread 34, The drum 28 is coupled to the driving mechanism of the carriers 16 such that the drum 28 rotates in the direction shown by arrow 36 when, and (in normal usage) only when, the braider is in operation, ie the carriers 16 are in motion.

In order to produce a head-dress in accordance with the present invention the attachment end of stem 12 of a decoration 8 is inserted into the braiding cone 24 substantially at the braid point 22, with the head 10 of tlie decoration 8 maintained outside the braiding cone 24.

As tlic carriers 16 move in tulle directions of the arrows, as shown, circular braid 4 is produced at the braid point 22 and hauled-off by the clip 30 carrying the now securely held attachment end of stem 12 of the decoration 8 along with the newly produced braid 4. A new stem 12 can be introduced at any time once the previous stem is clear of the braiding point 22, In some embodiments the machine may have to be momentarily stopped while a new stem 12 is inserted into the braiding cone 24.

In some embodiments of the present invention stems 12 may be secured by braid 4 without heads 10 attached. In this case one end of the stem 12 is maintained outside the braiding cone 24 for the later attachment of a decorative head 10. This has the advantage that the choice of decorations can be left to tlie end user providing additional versatility and marketability.

A circular version of the head-dress described above can be produced by taking a band 2 and bending it to form a complete circle, the wire 6 ends are then secured together (eg by twisting, soldering, welding etc) and the braid ends secured together (eg by sewing, adhesives or vrelding).

Any of the well known braiding materials may be used in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. A decorative item comprising a plurality of threads bound to form a length of braid and at least one decorative component having a decorative end and an attachment end and wherein the decorative component is attached to the braid by the winding of said threads about the attachment end.

2. A decorative item according to Claim 1, wherein a self-supporting filament is provided within the circular braid.

3. A decorative item according to Clairn 1 or Claim 2, wherein a flower head is formed at the decorative end.

4. A decorative item according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the item is fashioned in the shape of a head-dress.

5. A decorative item according to Claims 1 to 4, wherein the item forms part of a garment of clothing.

6. A method of providing a decorative item comprising forming a length of braid at a braid point by a means of braiding threads extending from a number of carriers to the braiding point so as to define a braiding cone; inserting at least part of an attachment end of a decorative component into the braid cone whilst maintaining at least part of the attachment end outside the braiding cone; and securing the attachment end of the decorative component in place by binding the braiding threads about the attachment end by carrying out the circular braiding process.

7. A method according to Claim 6, wherein a self-supporting filament is thread through the centre of the braid point.

8. An apparatus for forming a decorative item comprising: a maypole braiding machine having means for feeding a self-supporting filament to a braid point; an access means to enable insertion of a decorative component into the braid point; and a haul-off means for extracting the decorative item from the machine.

9. An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the haul-off means is a drum coupled to a maypole drive such that the drum operates when the drive operates.

10. An apparatus according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein a clutch means is interposed between the drum and the maypole drive whereby the action of the drum can be altered whilst the maypole drive Is operational.

11. An apparatus according to Claim 8 and Claim 9, wherein operation of the apparatus is controlled by a tirning means such that tile speed of operation of the apparatus is adapted to facilitate insertion of decorative components into the braid point.