Kit and method for assembling a decorative object pattern upon a separate article

A kit and method for assembling a decorative object pattern upon a fabric article including a flat, smooth surface board, a desired number of individual stencil units, slidably situated upon the board, and held movably in place by magnetic force. The stencil units are arranged upon the board surface to create a desired stencil design. Rhinestones or other decorative objects are situated within the stencil pattern with their adhesive side down. An adhesive backed cover sheet is provided to hold the decorative object pattern in place. The cover sheet is adapted to being placed on the fabric surface, and the held objects adhered thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current invention relates to arrangement of decorative objects, including, but not limited to, rhinestones, by utilization of a stencil or template system. The objects are arranged for application to clothing or objects, such as scrapbooks, home decorations and the like, without the use of computers, software or other complex machinery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art includes examples of computer controlled machines, which pickup and place rhinestones onto a transfer film in a computer designed pattern in preparation for application to garments or other articles. While these computer controlled devices have the advantage of precision accuracy, speed, and limit individual manual labor per production unit, they are primarily directed to large quantity production, and are financially prohibitive for the hobbyist, or individual custom craft artist.

Another method, disclosed by the prior art, is by computer designed templates or stencils created by computer numerical control (CNC) machines. These machines create stencils for the pattern of holes, or cavities, of a specific depth so that, when decorative objects or rhinestones are swept across the surface, the objects are trapped within the holes arranging in precisely in the preferred template/stencil pattern. In this method, the rhinestones/decorative objects are then lifted by transfer film for application to clothing or other articles.

The prior art also includes a method of self-made templates in which the user manufactures a single template for each design. These self-made single design templates offer precision accuracy and, once the template is completed, provide a speed feature for multiple applications from the same template. Self-made templates are nor cost-effective for the smaller operator, however, and equipment and software to manufacture them are often too expensive for many individuals and businesses. A skilled operator is needed to operate software and equipment and the time and effort involved to do small quantities is extensive and cost-prohibitive. Purchasing previously manufactured templates, for a particular design, also have similar disadvantages, primarily costs and the inability to revise the design to individual preferences.

Rhinestones or other similar decorative objects may also be placed directly on garments or other articles by hand placement, which may be accomplished by several method: A hear wand tool may be utilized. Such a tool picks up individual objects, with pre-applied adhesive, hears them to liquify the adhesive, and then applies each object individually to a garment or other article. A transfer film method may be utilized, involving placing the individual rhinestones, again, one by one, onto a clear transfer film, usually following a pre-printed pattern beneath the film, one at a time until the pattern is completed and ready to heat apply to a garment or object. Additionally, rhinestones or other decorative objects, with heat activated adhesive at their base, may be arranged on the actual garment or object in a desired pattern. Once in place, they may be heat applied, permanently, to the garment or object.

Another method is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,845, to Abraskin et al, wherein, for applying a rhinestone facial display and display at other locations, a transfer rod transports the rhinestone, held by static electricity charge, to an adhesive previously deposited at the display site and which rod is then backed off resulting in a rhinestone remaining because the adhesive attachment is greater than the hold of the static electric charge.

Other cools exist (one of which is commonly known as a “bedazzler”) which individually attach Rhinestones to garments in a two-part configuration with a metal base which crimps around the rhinestone from the opposite side of the garment, providing an affixation method similar to that employed by a rivet. Again, the design arrangement may lack precision, and is slow, tedious and repetitive, particularly when one design is intended to be placed on multiple articles.

Other applications involve using a reusable grid board with holes in a graph-like arrangement, allowing the user to place individual rhinestones in selected holes to arrange a particular pattern, then utilizing a transfer film to attach and lift them out of the grid for application to garments or other objects. While simple, the size of the design is limited to the particular board and the particular hole pattern of the board limits the design capabilities and options available to the user. Likewise, the rhinestone or decorative object size is limited to the size of the particular holes in the board, which is a disadvantage, particularly if, in the individual design, the user desires to intersperse different sized decorative objects. A take off on the same grid arrangement allows the application of plungers to fill unused holes, leaving only holes desired for the particular design, and then to sweep the rhinestones or decorative objects across the surface and remaining grid holes, so that rhinestones or other decorative objects, as applicable, are trapped within the unplugged holes in the template pattern. Again, a transfer film is used for application to garments or other articles. The advantages and disadvantages are similar to the above recited grid board application.

One additional method of applying rhinestones involves the use of a material called “sticky flock” which is an upper cloth material, with an adhesive backing, which may be cut into different custom stencil sizes, and arranged in a desired overall design. “Sticky flock” applications to date are problematic because the adhesive backing in general does nor allow slidable arrangement for modification of designs once placed, it is difficult to reuse because of potential stretching and/or shrinkage of material, and loss of the adhesive background.

Thus, a need exists, which the prior art has not addressed, for a kit and a method for applying decorative objects to other articles which allows for a variety of reusable stencil or template units, each containing various design elements, which may be interchangeably placed together to form various designs and may be placed, and resistibly, slidably moved by the maker, across a flat baseboard to form the designs, and which, when finally placed, will hold their position, unless some significant outside force is applied to slidably move them from their desired position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is directed to provision of a kit and method for assembling a pattern of adhered decorative objects on a fabric or clothing surface, or other article.

More specifically, the invention is directed to provision of such a kit and method by which an individual, without the aid of complex or expensive machinery, can form decorative designs of precision alignment for the arrangement of rhinestones, or other decorative objects, in such a pattern, for adhesion to a fabric or other type of article surface. A further object of the invention is to allow the same pattern to be used for multiple applications of the same design without detracting from the precision arrangement of the design as ultimately determined by the user.

Further, the invention is directed to provision of a forming board, with a smooth surface, and an arrangement of stencil or template units, which may be slidably arranged thereon to the precise precision design desired by the user. The stencils/templates may be slidably mounted on the board and adjusted thereon while being held slidably in place by sufficient magnetic force.

According to an important feature of the invention kit, a flat surface mounting board is provided. The board is of sufficient size to provide for an arrangement of the desired design on its surface. Although not required for the basic novel improvement of the invention, the mounting board may provide longitudinal and latitudinal lines, in the nature of overlaid graph, imprinted on its surface, to assist the user in aligning the stencil pieces as desired.

The mounting board, generally, contains the magnetic element. A layer of magnetic materials beneath the vinyl and above and supported by a base of rigid material to maintain structure is provided.

Next, a number of individual stencil units, of uniform thickness, each having a designated number and position of designated apertures or holes is provided. The apertures or holes are configured to accept the flat base of a decorative object therein. The stencils may be placed upon the mounting board. They are constructed of magnetically attractable material, which may be rigid, metal, or of other flexible magnetic sheet, retainable to flat orientation, material. The upper and lower sides of each of the stencil units are smooth, parallel and essentially identical. Accordingly, any individual stencil may be reversed, for any particular design, to provide what would essentially be a mirror image. A supply of decorative objects, which may be rhinestones, rhinestuds, or any other decorative object comprised of material which may include rock crystal, metal, ceramic, glass or acrylic, having a flat base, and a raised upper surface are provided. Enough decorative objects are provided to fill each of the cavities of the stencils which are arranged in the desired design. The decorative objects, in the preferred embodiment, have a pre-applied hear activated adhesive on their under or flat side, which is conformed to fit within each cavity, with the adhesive flat side down. The stencils are conformed so that the tops of the decorative objects are at least equal to or higher than the upper flat surface of the stencils. A cover sheet comprised of mylar, or other appropriate flexible sheet material, having an adhesive backed side is then laid over the entire design, with downward pressure applied, so that the adhesive back of the sheet returnably contacts each of the rhinestones or other decorative objects. The cover sheet is then positioned appropriately on the fabric or other clothing article, or other type of article on which the design is desired to be imprinted, so that the underside of each of the decorative objects contacts the article, and a hear source, which may include an iron, hear press, or the like, is applied, causing the heat activated adhesive on each of the decorative objects or rhinestones to adhere to the fabric garment or other article.

A key feature of the invention, irrespective of the use to which the design templates or stencils may be put, is the basic, but novel, combination of a mounting board, having a rigid, form-holding base, supporting a magnetic layer, overlaid with a smooth, flat upper surface, of a low friction material such as vinyl or a like substitute.

Any desired number of individual flat stencil units are placed upon the smooth, flat surface, each stencil unit containing a desired design element. The stencils are of magnetically attractable material.

While the stencils are held against the board by magnetic force, they are slidable on the board so that they may be moved and combined into a desired design. Once in place, the magnetic force of the board holds them in place absent intentional exerted force parallel to the upper surface.

Another key, and novel, embodiment of the invention is the provision of stencil sheets, each containing multiple stencils, having different design elements and each sheet being of magnetically attractable material. The stencils of each sheet are cut out, or stamped through the sheet, leaving only one or more severable tabs holding each cur out stencil parallel and in place. Upon initial selection of a stencil, the designer simply applies force to the stencil and each tab breaks, freeing the stencil from the sheet for mounting on the board.

The above and additional features of the invention may be considered and will become apparent in conjunction with the drawings in particular and the detailed description which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention, Kit and Method for Assembling a Decorative Object Pattern on a Separate Article, broadly considered, includes a mounting board member10having a substantially flat upper surface11and a defined perimeter12. Flat upper surface11is preferably of low friction material, such as smooth vinyl, and may be comprised of any material having a smooth, low friction surface, and through which magnetic attraction of metallic objects may be maintained. Board member10, in the preferred embodiment, has, in addition to flat upper surface11, a rigid lower layer support base13and a middle layer of magnetic material14. Upper surface layer11, support layer13and middle layer14are substantially in parallel and all share the same perimeter12. Ideally, lower layer12is rigid for support, but it does not depart from the spirit of the invention for the entire mounting board member10to be flexible so long as it will conform to and lie parallel upon a substantially horizontal surface. The composition of the preferred embodiment of board member10is shown inFIG. 1Bwhich is a cross-sectional view of perimeter12of board10along line AA.

The primary feature of board10within the overall invention remains the upper surface11being smooth enough to slide flat objects thereon as shown inFIG. 4, and that the board10generate sufficient magnetic attraction to hold any desired number of stencils (alternatively described herein as template) slidably in place on surface11. Reference is herein made toFIG. 9, which shows an exploded view of an alternative construction of board10, wherein the base layer13supports a matrix sheet15, said sheet15containing and defining a number of adjoining apertures17across its entire surface18and a like number of neodymium magnets19corresponding to and conformed to fit within each aperture17. The matrix sheet15and magnet19combination comprise middle layer14and are covered by smooch surface layer11.

The kit includes a selection of multiple stencil units20. Each individual stencil unit21of the multiple units20provided is substantially flat as shown inFIG. 1Cwith a lower surface22and a substantially parallel upper surface23.FIG. 1Cshows a perspective view21aof an individual stencil unit21; a top view21; and a perimeter view21c. The distance between parallel surfaces22and21defines a uniform thickness24for all individual stencil units21provided.

In the preferred embodiment, the multiple stencil units20have a thickness24of substantially 0.025 inches and the stencil units20are comprised of magnetically attractive stainless steel. However, other metals or materials containing magnetically attractable properties which are substantially non-deformable and, if comprised of flexible material, are returnable to a flat planar disposition, and are of substantially uniform thickness24will suffice.

Each individual unit21defines on its surface one or more generally circular apertures25. In the primary embodiment, these apertures are of equal depth and extend completely through each unit21. The parallel lower and upper surfaces22,23and the complete extension of the apertures in this embodiment provides a reversible feature for each stencil unit21, as shown inFIG. 2a.

The one or more cavities25in each stencil unit21comprise an individual design element26, as shown inFIG. 2. Each stencil unit21has a perimeter edge27which is exterior of every aperture25sufficient to provide a board28on the surface23surrounding each individual deign element26on each stencil unit21.

Each stencil unit21containing a design element26may be placed with its lower surface22proximate the smooth upper surface11of board member10. The individual units are slidably held against the surface21and manually moved, as shown inFIG. 4unit the individual design element26of each stencil unit21for a total desired design as shown inFIGS. 10,11,12and13.

In the preferred embodiment, the stencil units21are held slidably in place by magnetic force of board10, but the source of the magnetic force is not in limitation of the invention, which could equally function with magnetized stencil units21and a magnetically attractable board member10, with a smooth upper surface11. Although not shown, the magnetic force of board10could be supplied through means of an attached electromagnet.

In the primary embodiment, a supply of decorative objects30is provided. The decorative object30may be rhinestones, rhinestuds, or the like, and the objects may be made of rock crystal, metal, ceramic, glass, acrylic or like material. Each decorative object30has a flat lower base surface31to which is adhered a heat activated adhesive. Each lower base surface31is shaped to fit conformably within an aperture25comprising a part of design element26. Each decorative object30has an upper surface32and the distance between the upper surface32and base surface31is at least the depth of each aperture25, which, in the preferred embodiment, is the distance between upper surface23and lower surface22of each individual stencil unit21, as shown inFIG. 8and further shown inFIGS. 11 and 12.

It is a feature of the invention chat one or more sheets35with multiple and different undivided stencil units21cut or stamped thereon, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 3a, are provided. Each individual stencil unit is cut out, stamped, or otherwise partially separate from said sheet35, except for one or more tabs36of unsevered sheet35material as more particularly shown inFIG. 3a. Thus, the individual stencil units21remain minimally attached to, and held in parallel with, sheet35, until severed by a user by applying upward or downward pressure to the stencil unit21. The initial inclusion of all stencil units21within sheet35provides for ease in storage, transport and selection of individual stencil units21and their respective contained design elements26for incorporation for a total desired design as shown inFIGS. 10,11,12and13.

The present invention further includes a retaining cover sheet40having an upper surface41and an adhesive backed lower surface42as shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. Retaining cover sheet40is of sufficient size to cover the total desired design as shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. The sheet cover40is of mylar or like material and is preferably transparent, with a surface strength and sheet rigidity sufficient to maintain the placement of the decorative objects30in the desired design, when adhered to the adhesive backed lower surface.

It is the intent of the invention that the retaining cover sheet40be placeable over the entire desired design form by the combination of stencil units21and that the decorative objects30confirming to the totality of design elements of the cavities25be adhered to and remain with sheet40when it is manually lifted upwardly and away from the mounting board10and magnetically adhered stencil units21. Sheet40is adapted to being placed over a separate article to which the decorative objects30are to be permanently adhered, which separate article may be clothing or other fabric or comprised of other materials such as paper, wood and/or metal.

The present invention includes a novel method for assembling a decorative object30pattern (“pattern” used herein interchangeably with “design”) on a separate clothing or other fabric article, although the same method may be utilized to apply such a decorative pattern on paper, wood, metal, ceramic, glass or other article surfaces. The novel method includes the following steps:

A. First, the kit of the present invention including the board10, plurality of stencils20, decorative objects30and cover sheet40, as described in more detail previously, is provided;

B. Next, the plurality of stencil units20is placed upon mounting board10, and positioned so that the totality of cavities25in the individual stencil units21form a desired design.

C. Next, the lower surfaces22of the stencil units21are held in position against the flat upper surface11of board10in the desired design position by magnetic force.

D. Next, a correspondingly decorative object30is conformably placed in each aperture25, with its flat base31downwardly and upper surface31extended above the board10's flat upper surface11. The placement of the decorative objects, conformably in corresponding apertures25, may be accomplished by means of a brush50, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. Although the direction is not critical, as demonstrated, particularly inFIG. 8, when a uniform motion of the brush is applied, a properly aligned decorative object30will fit, and stay conformably, in a corresponding aperture25, but a decorative object30, not properly aligned, will not be held in place, and will be brushed away by the sweeping motion51.

E. Next, the retaining cover sheet40with its adhesive backed lower surface42downward is manually placed over and in contact with each of the decorative objects30which are situated with the define cavities25of the individual stencil units21which form the desired decorative design.

F. Next, the cover sheet40with decorative objects30adhered to the undersign42thereof is manually lifted away from the base board10leaving the stencil units21attached thereto.

G. Next, cover sheet40is placed in the desired location over the clothing or other article with the underside31of each decorative object30contacting the article.

H. Finally, a heat source, as defined above, including an iron or hear press, is applied over sheet40and the decorative articles30activating the adhesive on the base31of each decorative object30and adhering the decorative objects30to the separate article in the desired design.

Whereas, a primary embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the disclosed embodiment-without departing from the spirit of the invention.