WO2020083788A1

WO2020083788A1 - System for applying accessories on a support

Info

Publication number: WO2020083788A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/078447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimo PAOLINI
Original assignee: Paolini Massimo
Priority date: 2018-10-26
Filing date: 2019-10-18
Publication date: 2020-04-30
Also published as: EP3869988B1; EP3869988A1

Abstract

A system for applying accessories on a support, comprises: a support (9), a heat-sealed film portion (17) disposed on the support (9), and an accessory (11) that penetrates the heat-sealed film portion (17) and the support (9) in such a way to be fixed to the support (9).

Description

SYSTEM FOR APPLYING ACCESSORIES ON A SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a system for applying accessories on a support. Accessories can be snap fasteners, pressure buttons, eyelets, and the like. Supports can be made of fabric, non-woven fabric, natural leather and the like.

5 Various types of accessories, such as snap fasteners, pressure buttons and eyelets, are known, which are suitable for being applied on a support by drilling a through hole on the support. Generally speaking, these accessories are made of metal or hard material. Therefore, if the support has a low thickness and can be easily broken or torn off, said 10 support tends to deteriorate around the accessory, tearing off the support.

Such an inconvenience is partially solved by applying a washer in the support. In such a case, the accessory is applied on the washer. The washer is compressed on the support in order to avoid tensioning the material under the washer.

15 However, such a system with washer is impaired by drawbacks and does not guarantee the desired result over time. In fact, the washer is not a reinforcement of the support. On the contrary, the washer is a reinforcing accessory that contributes to prevent the tearing off of the support material, without guaranteeing a satisfactory result, especially on supports 20 made of valuable fabric.

Moreover, the washer has a thickness of a few millimeters; therefore, the washer is visible and changes the aesthetics of the support.

The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art, by disclosing a method and a system for applying accessories on 25 a support that are efficient, reliable and suitable for avoiding the deterioration or tearing off of the support around the accessory.

Another purpose of the present invention is to disclose such a method and a system for the applying accessories on a support, which avoid the use of cumbersome reinforcing accessories that change the aesthetics of the support.

An additional purpose of the present invention is to disclose such a method and a system for applying accessories on a support that are 5 versatile, inexpensive and simple to make.

These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the independent claims.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

10 The method and system for applying accessories on a support according to the invention are defined by the independent claims.

Additional features of the invention will appear manifest from the detailed description below, which refers to a merely illustrative, not limiting embodiment, as illustrated in the attached figures, wherein:

15 Figs. 1 , 2 and 3 are three diagrammatic partially-sectioned views that illustrate three working stations and three steps of the method for applying accessories on a support according to the invention;

Figs. 1 A, 2A and 3A are three diagrammatic perspective views that respectively illustrate the products that come out of the three working 20 stations of Figs. 1 , 2 and 3.

With reference to the Figures, the system for applying accessories on a support according to the invention is described.

With reference to Fig. 1 , a ribbon (1 ) is disclosed, which comprises a support sheet (2) made of non-heat sealable material and a film (3) made 25 of heat-sealable material;

For instance, the support sheet (2) can be made of paper or silicone paper.

Preferably, the film (3) has a polyurethane base and comprises at least 90% of polyurethane in weight percentage. The polyurethane film (3) 30 guarantees a good adhesion on substrates that are compatible with polyurethane-based adhesives, such as substrates composed of fabrics made of cotton, linen, wool, viscose, polyamide, polyester, synthetic polyurethane (elastane or Spandex). Advantageously, the film (3) is transparent.

The film (3) has a weight/surface ratio of approximately 130-180 g/m² and a thickness of approximately 0.12-0.14 mm.

The ribbon (1 ) is fed to a cutting machine (4) capable of cutting out 5 a section (5) comprising a piece (6) of the support sheet and a film portion

(7) disposed in a central position of the piece (6) of the support sheet (see Fig. 1 A).

Advantageously, the cutting machine (4) also makes a through hole

(8) in the piece (6) of the support sheet, in correspondence of a central 10 part of the film portion (7).

Advantageously, the cutting machine (4) can be a laser cutting machine with computer numerical control (CNC), in such a way to obtain a film portion (7) with a personalized pattern, according to the shape of the accessory to be applied on the support.

15 With reference to Fig. 2, a support (9) is fed to a sealing machine

(10).

The support (9) is suitable for the application of accessories. The support (9) can be a piece of fabric, non-woven fabric, natural leather or synthetic leather. In any case, the support (9) is made of a material that 20 guarantees adhesion with the film (3) by means of heat-sealing.

The sealing machine (10) can be a hot press with a pressure of approximately 6 bar and a temperature of approximately 120-160°C suitable for melting the film portion (7) and heat-seal the film portion (7) on the support (9).

25 The sealing machine (10) can also be a high-frequency heat sealing machine, with ultrasound (with working frequency of approximately 3,500 Hz) or vibrations.

The section (5) is placed on the support (9) in a position wherein the accessory is to applied, with the film portion (7) facing the support (9). 30 The sealing machine (10) applies pressure on the piece (6) of support sheet in such a way that the film portion (7) is heat-sealed on the support

(9), obtaining a heat-sealed film portion (17), as shown in Fig. 2A. Advantageously, although not shown in the figures, the support (9) is turned over and a second section (5) is used to apply a second film portion (7) on the side of the support opposite to the side where the first film portion is applied, in correspondence of the first heat-sealed film 5 portion (17).

Fig. 3 illustrates an accessory (11 ) suitable for being applied on the support (9), in correspondence of the heat-sealed film portion (17). For illustrative purposes, the accessory (11 ) is a rivet button that comprises a stem (12) and a head (13) that is larger than the stem.

10 The support (9) with the heat-sealed film portion (17) and the accessory (11 ) are fed to an accessory-applying machine (14). Such an accessory-applying machine (14) can be for example a riveting machine, a button-applying machine and the like.

The stem (12) of the accessory perforates the heat-sealed film

15 portion (17) and the support (9). Then the end of the stem (12) is riveted or blocked with a washer in such a way to fix the accessory (11 ) to the support. Finally, the accessory (11 ) is applied to the support (9) as shown in Fig. 3A.

The heat-sealed film portion (17) acts as reinforcement for the

20 material of the support (9) that is disposed under the heat-sealed film portion (17), guaranteeing the fixing of the accessory (11 ) applied in correspondence of the heat-sealed film portion (17), as well as the integrity of the fibers of the material of the support (9) disposed under the heat- sealed film portion (17).

25 Moreover, the heat-sealed film portion (17) has a minimum thickness, lower than 0.15 mm and advantageously the heat-sealed film portion (17) is made of transparent material. For this reason, said heat- sealed film portion (17) is invisible for the consumer and has no unaesthetic impact on the support (2).

30 Numerous equivalent variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, which are within the reach of an expert of the field and fall in any case within the scope of the invention as disclosed by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Method for applying accessories on a support, comprising the following steps:

- providing a ribbon (1 ) comprising a support sheet (2) made of non heat sealable material and a film (3) made of heat-sealable material;

5 - cutting the ribbon (1) in such a way as to obtain a section (5) comprising a piece (6) of the support sheet and a film portion (7) disposed in a central position of the piece (6) of the support sheet;

- heat-sealing the film portion (7) on a support (9) in such a way to obtain a heat-sealed film portion (17) disposed in a position wherein an lo accessory is to be applied (11 ); and

- applying the accessory (11 ) on the support (9), in correspondence of the heat-sealed film portion (17), in such a way that the accessory (11 ) penetrates the heat-sealed film portion (17) and the support (9) in order to be fixed to the support.

15 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the support (9) comprises a fabric, non-woven fabric, natural leather or synthetic leather; and

the accessory (11 ) comprises snap fasteners, pressure buttons or eyelets.

20 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said film (3) has a polyurethane base and comprises at least 90% of polyurethane in weight percentage.

4. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said film (3) has a thickness of 0.12-0.14 mm.

25 5. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said film (3) is transparent.

6. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of cutting is made with a laser cutting machine.

7. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of

30 heat-sealing is made with a hot press, or with a high-frequency, ultrasound or vibration heat-sealing machine.

8. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of applying the accessories is made with a riveting machine or a button- applying machine.

9. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein a second section (5) is cut and a second film portion (7) is heat-sealed on one side of the support in opposite position to the side wherein the first film portion is heat-sealed, in such a way as to obtain two heat-sealed film portions (17) on opposite sides of the support that are penetrated by an accessory (12).