GB2312443A

GB2312443A - Repairing textile fabric articles

Info

Publication number: GB2312443A
Application number: GB9608594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Peter Earle Higgin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-04-24
Filing date: 1996-04-24
Publication date: 1997-10-29
Also published as: GB9608594D0

Abstract

Damaged textile fabric (e.g. table linen) is repaired by removing a damaged portion with a cloth cutting die, replacing the damaged portion with an insert (8) cut from an inconspicuous part of the article, and adhesively bonding a patch (14) of flexible net material over the insert and surrounding fabric of the article. The use of low weave density net material for the patch enables a more transparent repair to be achieved whilst maintaining adequate strength. A preferred net material is of nylon, having a mesh size within the range 0.5 mm up to 5.00 mm and having a diamond shaped structure.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO REPAIRING TEXTILE FABRIC ARTICLES When a textile fabric article becomes damaged, which invariably happens from time to time, the garment or item may need to be repaired.

There are many known techniques for repairing fabric articles.

One known method of repair, for example used in the hotel and catering industries to repair table linen and bed linen damaged by small tears, cigarette burns and the like, involves cutting out an area of fabric which includes the damaged portion, and replacing the area of fabric with an insert of fabric of the same dimensions as the removed portion. The insert is then attached to the remainder of the fabric by gluing a patch of fabric to a rear face of the article. The patch has larger dimensions than the insert so that it overlaps the joint between the insert and the article.

Such overlapping provides an area for the adhesive to act over, and a secure bond arises.

By using fabric for both the insert and the patch which is the same or very similar to that of the article it is possible to carry out a repair which is difficult to see at a glance.

Although this method repairs the article so that it does not have to be thrown away, it is apparent from the thickness and stiffness of the resulting repair that a repair has been performed. Such repairs are especially apparent if light passes through the article, when the repair appears as a dark area.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of repairing a fabric article which provides a repair which is harder to detect than by prior methods.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a method of repairing a textile fabric article comprising removing a damaged portion of the article, replacing the damaged portion with an insert of similar fabric, and adhesively bonding a patch of a flexible net material over the insert and surrounding fabric of the article in order to secure the insert in the article, the net material having a lower weave density than the fabric of the insert and the article.

The method may be applied to a variety of fabrics including polyester, silk, linen and cotton. This selection of fabrics is not intended to be limiting and is only provided by way of example of fabrics on which the technique has been tried. By suitable selection of a relatively low weave density net (as compared with the fabric being repaired) a relatively transparent repair may be achieved.

Preferably the weave of the fabrics of the insert and the article are aligned in order to make the mend harder to detect. If the fabric is patterned, aligning the weave should ensure that the pattern is aligned.

The piece of fabric forming the insert may be taken from an undamaged portion of the article which is hidden from view in use, so ensuring that the fabric of the insert and the article are closely matched.

A cloth-cutting die can be used to remove the damaged portion from the article and to form the insert, a die producing a clean and reproducible cut. Use of the same die for the two purposes can ensure that the two portions of fabric have substantially the same dimensions, and consequently that the insert fits precisely into a hole left in the article upon removal of the damaged portion. An advantage of having matching dimensions in this manner is that the repair is harder to see.

Preferably a heat-activated adhesive is used to bond the patch in place, giving the advantage that it is quick drying and easy to apply.

A suitable heat-activated adhesive may melt at a temperature of around 1400C. This temperature has the advantage that generally fabrics will not be spoilt by applying this degree of heat to them.

The heat-activated adhesive may be provided in a sheet, and the method may comprise cutting a piece from the sheet which has substantially the same dimensions as the patch; the same die may be used for cutting out the patch and for cutting a piece from the adhesive sheet.

The use of net material for the insert-securing patch can give the advantage of being relatively easy to see through and yet be tough and flexible. A preferred net material is constructed of nylon fibres of thicknesses within the range 0.076mm (0.003 inch) up to 0.76mm (0.03 inch), more preferably 0.127mm (0.005 inch) to 0.178mm (0.007 inch), the net having a mesh size within the range of 0.5mm up to 5.0mm. The net may have a diamond shaped structure. This may provide better mechanical properties than a rectangular structure. Nets of cotton and other materials may be found suitable in some circumstances.

Preferably the patch is applied to a rear face of the article. This has the advantage that the repair is further hidden from view.

Preferably after the damaged portion has been removed from the article, the insert has been correctly aligned in the resulting hole, adhesive applied to the rear of the insert and surrounding portions of the article, and the patch applied over the adhesive, a sheet of release paper is applied over the patch and heat is applied to the rear of the release paper.

An advantage of using release paper in this manner is that both the heat applying apparatus ( perhaps an iron) and the fabric are protected from damage. The release paper is preferably easy to remove once the heating operation has taken place. Preferably the method further comprises applying firm pressure with the heat applying means to secure the patch.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a kit for use in the repair of damaged textile fabric articles by a method according to the invention comprising at least one die adapted to cut damaged portions from articles, at least one sheet of heat-activated adhesive and at least one portion of net material suitable for forming repair patches.

Preferably the kit contains at least two differently sized dies. An advantage of this is that, in use, the user will be able to cut the damaged portion from the article using a smaller die and then use a larger die to cut out the patch, the patch so being of a size to cover the hole left in the article.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a repaired fabric article, which has been repaired in accordance with a method according to the invention.

A repair method will now be described, to illustrate the invention by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 shows a rear face of a section of a textile fabric article which has been damaged; Figure 2 shows the rear face of the section of the fabric article with a damaged portion removed; Figure 3 shows the rear face of the section of the fabric article with a repair insert inserted into the hole left by removal of the portion; and Figure 4 shows the rear face of the fabric article with the damage repaired.

The Figures 1 to 4 show the steps outlined in repairing damage to sections of articles.

Textile fabric can easily be damaged, for example, by small tears and cigarette burns. The portion of the fabric article 2 shown in Figure 1 has been damaged by a small tear 4. The rear side of the fabric is shown in the Figures.

Figure 2 shows the same portion of fabric as Figure 1, but with a circular hole 6 in it created by the removal of a portion of fabric containing the damage. The portion has been cut from the fabric article by means of a first die.

A replacement portion 8 of fabric is cut from a part of the fabric article 2 which is not readily viewable, for example a hem of the article (not shown). Use of the first die ensures that the portion has substantially the same dimensions as the hole 6.

The replacement portion 8 is introduced into the hole 6 as an insert to occupy the hole. Both the fabric of the fabric article 2 and the replacement portion 8 have warp 10,11 and weft 12,13 threads which are aligned.

A disc of heat-activated adhesive (not shown) is cut from a sheet of such material using a second die. A portion of material forming a patch 14 is cut from a sheet of nylon net material, also using the second die; the disc of heat-activated adhesive and the net patch 14 consequently have substantially the same dimensions. The net material is of a relatively low weave density as compared with that of the fabric of the article 2.

The second die is of larger diameter than the first die, for example one-and-three-quarters or twice the diameter.

The disc of heat-activated adhesive and the net patch 14 are laid on the rear face of the fabric article 2. The patch 14 is laid directly on top of the disc of adhesive to overlap the joint between the insert 8 and surrounding fabric of the article 2. The disc of adhesive lies between the insert 8 and the net patch 14. This is best shown in Figure 4.

Once the disc of adhesive and the net patch 14 are in place, a sheet of silicon release paper (not shown) is placed on the rear face of the fabric article to cover the patch.

A hot iron heated to 1400C is then applied with firm pressure for approximately 10 seconds to the silicon release paper, directly over the insert 8 and patch 14 and the disc of adhesive. This application of heat melts the adhesive.

The iron is then removed from the fabric article and the adhesive cools. Once the adhesive has cooled the net patch 14 is found to be adhered to both the insert 8 and surrounding areas of the fabric article 2.

The insert 8 is consequently securely located within the hole 6.

It will be appreciated that although there is the patch 14 on the rear face of the fabric article, the front face of the article is substantially free from modification.

We believe that using a net fabric for the patch 14 protects the iron in subsequent ironing operations, for example after the fabric article has been washed. The net may form a substantially incompressible grid arrangement, with voids in between the fibres forming pockets. The adhesive used to bond the patch to the fabric article and the insert may reside partially in the pockets.

Because the fibres of the net fabric are substantially incompressible (by forces involved in ironing at least) the force of an iron applied to the patch may not come into contact with adhesive trapped in the pockets and the adhesive may not be remelted by subsequent ironing operations.

A preferred net material for forming the patch 14 is constructed of nylon fibres having a thickness of either 0.127mm (t.005 inch) or 0.178mm (0.007 inch), the net having a mesh size of 1.Omm.

The use of low weave density net material for the patch enables a more transparent repair to be achieved whilst maintaining adequate strength.

Claims

1. A method of repairing a textile fabric article comprising removing a damaged portion of the article, replacing the damaged portion with an insert of similar fabric, and adhesively bonding a patch of a flexible net material over the insert and surrounding fabric of the article in order to secure the insert in the article, the net material having a lower weave density than the fabric of the insert and the article.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which a cloth-cutting die is used to remove the damaged portion from the article and to form the insert.

3. A method according to either of claims 1 and 2 in which a heatactivated adhesive is used to bond the patch in place.

4. A method according to claim 3 in which the heat-activated adhesive is provided in a sheet, and a cutting die is used both for cutting out the patch and for cutting a piece from the adhesive sheet.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the net material is constructed of nylon fibres of thicknesses within the range 0.076mm (0.003 inch) up to 0.76mm (0.03 inch), more preferably 0.127mm (0.005 inch) to 0.178mm (0.007 inch), the net having a mesh size within the range of 0.5mm up to 5.0mm.

6. A method according to claim 5 in which the net has a diamond shaped structure.

7. A kit for use in the repair of damaged textile fabric articles by a method according to the invention comprising at least one die adapted to cut damaged portions from articles, at least one sheet of heat-activated adhesive and at least one portion of net material suitable for forming repair patches.

8. A repaired fabric article, which has been repaired in accordance with a method according to the invention.

9. A method of repairing a textile fabric article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.