Abstract:
Many garments made of denim material have factory created one or more discontinuities exposing a group of parallel threads and referred to as “distressed denim”. Sometimes, some or all of these threads become torn or rips or tears occur in the denim garment to create a discontinuity. A patch to cover the discontinuity is made of a plurality of side by side threads attached to one side of an adhesive panel and fabric material is attached to the other side of the adhesive panel. A plurality of adhesive strips essentially circumscribing the discontinuity adhere the patch to the rear side of the denim material and expose the threads through the discontinuity.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application includes subject matter disclosed in and claims priority to a provisional application entitled “Method and Article for Patching Fabric Openings with a Distressed Fabric Patch” filed Nov. 10, 2014 and assigned Ser. No. 62/077,379 describing an invention made by the present inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to patching the distressed area of a pair of denims and, more particularly, to a patch for replicating or for otherwise repairing a damaged distressed area of denim and a method for making same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Prior Art 
         [0005]    Denim jeans, sometimes referred to as denim, are sometimes purposely distressed to create areas where only parallel threads remain. The purpose for doing so is to create so-called vintage jeans that are very popular with a certain segment of society. Denim jeans that have been worn over a period of time naturally develop such distressed areas. 
         [0006]    Generally, the threads in a distressed area can render visible to some extent the underlying skin or garment. With normal wear, the threads in the distressed area become broken to a lesser or greater extent. The resulting lack of threads is generally considered unacceptable by the societal group favoring vintage jeans. 
         [0007]    To patch the damaged distressed area with a patch of denim sewn or otherwise attached to cover the distressed area at the front or the back of the fabric is considered destructive of the vintage look. 
         [0008]    Sometimes denim jeans become torn or otherwise damaged. Such damaged area can be trimmed to create a clear opening, which opening can be patched with a piece of denim fabric. If the denim jeans are vintage jeans and the intention is that of maintaining the look of vintage jeans, such look would be compromised. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to repairing a damaged or distressed area in vintage jeans (denim) with a patch that will replicate the missing and/or damaged threads. The patch is basically secured to the inside surface of the denim in an overlapping relationship with the distressed area. The patch is formed by a plurality of parallel aligned threads secured to adhesive on one side of a transparent sheet. A piece of fabric, such as a see-through (translucent) fabric, is adhesively attached to the other side of the sheet to serve as a backing and support for the threads. The patch is cut to a size sufficient to overlap the damaged or distressed area and secured to the perimeter of the area at the back side of the denim by strips of adhesive circumscribing the area. 
         [0010]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to preserve the look of vintage jeans after a distressed area has been damaged due to wear or otherwise. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an easily attachable patch for replicating the threads previously existing in a distressed area of denim. 
         [0012]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive patch for the distressed area in denim. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an original look to a pair of damaged distressed denim jeans. 
         [0014]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a patch easily mountable by a user to distressed areas of vintage jeans. 
         [0015]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a patch for repairing a distressed area in denim. 
         [0016]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for patching the distressed area in a pair of vintage jeans. 
         [0017]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates the leg of a pair of vintage jeans and showing a distressed area; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates the components of a patch for repairing the distressed area of a pair of vintage jeans; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the patch incorporating the elements shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4 , as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method of securing the patch to the distressed area of a pair of vintage jeans; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  as shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and illustrates a section of a pair of vintage jeans wherein the distressed area has been repaired. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    The term “distressed” in the context of denim jeans is a style of denim that is given a vintage look through manufacturing processes. This provides these denim jeans with a look that replicates the look found in conventional denim jeans that have been well worn by a wearer. Many manufacturers purposely fade or age the denim to give a vintage, worn look through methods set by stone washing, enzyme washing, acid washing, sand blasting, emerizing, micro sanding, etc. When these processes are taken to an extreme, fraying hems and seams create whiskers and even ripping and tearing of the denim. However, denim that comes through the stress does not mold to a user&#39;s body in the same way as conventional denim jeans. 
         [0027]    Typically, distressed denim jeans have areas or discontinuities that are defined by parallel, vertically or horizontally oriented threads. Over a period of time, these threads may become broken to a greater or lesser extent. With some or more of the threads compromised, the skin or undergarment becomes visible. Sometimes, denim jeans become torn inadvertently or they are cut purposely to create a void or discontinuity. 
         [0028]    Generally, vintage jeans provided by a manufacturer are relatively expensive because of the additional labor and equipment required to create a vintage (well worn) look. The present invention provides a patch for repairing the worn or damaged distressed area. Alternatively, the patch can be used to cover a deliberately cut void to create an inexpensive pair of vintage jeans. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 1  there is illustrated a pant leg  10  of a pair of distressed jeans covering the leg of a user  12 . A distressed area  14  is located on the front portion of pant leg  10 . The distressed area may be representative of a pair of distressed denim jeans or it may be representative of a patch attached to the inside surface of pant leg  10  to cover the discontinuity in the denim material and create/maintain the look of vintage jeans. For example, this could be an area cut out by the user in order to attach a patch constructed in accordance with the present invention and to thereby provide a vintage look to the pair of denim jeans. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the components of a patch  20  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention are shown. A distressed thread bare front  22  may be constructed by either of two methods. First, a manufacturer may take a 36 inch by 60 inch fabric of bleached (white), natural, dyed, stretch or standard denim (also known as twill). Two 28 inch by 36 inch rectangles are distressed using cutting with various pressures and washings to break down the denim to nothing but thread bare horizontal weft fibers held together by a small frame of solid denim. Alternatively, cotton or a polyblend, both 20/2 and 10/2, of unmercerized standard stretchy yarn is wrapped around a 38 inch by 28 inch frame. The yarn is evenly wrapped across the surface of the frame to produce a plurality of spaced apart parallel threads. To positionally maintain the yarn, cotton muslin strips are glued along the edge of the frame to cover the threads that extend across the frame. This is done on opposed sides of the frame to produce sturdy borders to hold the threads in place. Irrespective of which process is used, it produces a plurality of parallel threads  24  retained in place by opposed borders  26 ,  28 . As depicted by hash lines  30 ,  32 , these borders are preferably of a fabric material. 
         [0031]    A sheet  40  of double sided polyurethane panel having an adhesive on either side is cut to size with a margin commensurate with the distressed area  14  to be repaired. A suitable polyurethane panel with double sided adhesive is available from Adhesive Films, Inc., located in New Jersey and identified as EXF 546 0.003 or 0.006 gauge. Release paper is disposed on each side of the panel. Release paper  42  is peeled from one side of panel  40  to expose the underlying adhesive  44 . Panel  40  is mated with distressed thread bare front  22  to adhere the threads thereto. Preferably, the adhesive is responsive to form a strong bond between threads  24  and panel  40 . Backside  46  of panel  40  includes a further release paper  48  to protect the adhesive on the backside of the panel. A stability fabric sheet  50 , which may be sheer cotton, tricot, denim, polyblend, organza, chiffon or other material, is adhered to backside  46  of panel  40  after removal of release paper  48 . 
         [0032]    The adhesive attendant both sides of panel  40  is heat responsive. A heat source, such as a conventional iron, may be applied to either or both parallel threads  24  and/or sheet  50  to ensure permanence. 
         [0033]    Patch  20  is depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In particular, threads  24  are adhered to panel  40  by adhesive and thereby somewhat protected against damage. Sheet  50  is adhered to the backside of panel  40 . As panel  40  may be transparent, the color and texture of sheet  50  may be more or less visible between threads  24 . Accordingly, the selection of sheet  50  may be a function to complement or contrast with the surrounding material of pant leg  10 . 
         [0034]    Referring jointly to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the method for attaching patch  20  to cover and overlap a distressed area  14  will be described. The distressed area is represented as a space without any threads extending from the perimeter thereof. However, this is not critical but the final effect will be more pleasing and acceptable if the perimeter of the distressed area is trimmed. 
         [0035]    Inside surface  54  of pant leg  10  is depicted in  FIG. 5  and patch  20  to be attached thereto. A plurality of strips, such as strips  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  62  are like polyurethane panel  40  in having adhesive on opposed sides and covered by release paper. As depicted, strip  56  is attached along one edge of distressed area  14  after the release paper in the rear side of the strip has been removed. Strips  58 ,  60  and  62  are similarly attached around the perimeter of distressed area. Before removal of the release papers  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70 , heat may be applied to activate the adhesive adjacent the uncovered bottom of the strips  56 ,  58 ,  60  and  62 . 
         [0036]    After removal of strips  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70 , patch  20 , after being trimmed to essentially correspond with the outside perimeter of the plurality of strips, is placed on the adhesive side of the strips. To activate the adhesive, heat may be applied to the patch to ensure that a firm or permanent bond will not fail during bending or twisting of the underlying material. A conventional iron used to iron garments has been found particularly useful to not only apply heat but also to compress the materials and form a strong bond. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates the exterior surface  64  of pant leg  10  after attachment of patch  20 . As depicted, patch  20 , at which threads  24  are clearly visible, extends across distressed area  14 . 
         [0038]    From the above description, it is self evident that a pair of vintage denim jeans which have been damaged or are damaged resulting in a void/opening can be reconstructed to provide the same visual impression as the original vintage denim jeans. Additionally, any tears or other damaged section of the garment can be trimmed to provide a distressed area for attaching a patch constructed in accordance with the present invention and thereby provide a pair of denim jeans with a vintage look.