Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to the field of clothing construction and, more particularly, to a novel method for the formation of permanent manipulations in textile materials such as pleats, ruffles, cinches, gatherings or any physical effect or pattern, through the application of an acrylic-based medium to the textile.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 USC §19(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/279,870 filed Jan. 18, 2016; incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of clothing construction and more particularly to a novel method for the formation of permanent manipulations in textile materials such as pleats, ruffles, cinches, gatherings or any physical effect or pattern, through the application of an acrylic-based medium to the textile. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In clothing construction, there is frequently the need to create permanent manipulations of textile materials. Such permanent manipulations include, but are not limited to, pleats, ruffles, cinches, gatherings, or other effects or patterns. 
         [0004]    In some instances, a permanent manipulation is also desirable to gather a longer length of textile material into a shorter length. The gathered shorter length textile material, then, has extra fabric fullness which is an integral part of the clothing design, either because of the decorative effect, or because the gathering process is desired for other functional or decorative purposes. 
         [0005]    As currently known in the art, the formation of permanent manipulations in textile materials is a tedious task that involves permanently affixing different sections of the material to itself via stitching. Several methods, such as machine-basting via sewing machine and a “zig-zag” stitch via sewing machine are utilized. Both of these methods are time-consuming, tedious and require a sewing machine and the knowledge necessary to operate said sewing machine. Moreover, great effort is expended in concealing all necessary stitching from view in the finished clothing. 
         [0006]    The purpose of the instant invention is to simplify the process of creating permanent manipulating in textiles through the use of acrylic-based mediums, thus obviating the need for tedious stitching or sewing. 
         [0007]    Methods of creating permanent manipulations in textiles are known in the art. 
         [0008]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,916 discloses “The improved ruffling tape includes a heat fusible, flexible, resilient, elongated strip of thermoplastic or the like, to one side of which is a pull string loosely secured thereto, as by spaced stitches along the length of the strip, which stitches run over the string and into the strip. The strip can include the heat fusible material, if desired, only on the side opposite that bearing the string. The string has one end thereof anchored thereto, as by a knot which does not pass through the stitches. The string may have a slip covering of silicone or the like. In accordance with the method, the strip is heat fused to one side of a fabric, with the string and stitches exposed. The fabric is then ruffled by pulling the free end of the string, with or without simultaneously pushing said fabric toward the tied end of the string. When the desired raffling is obtained, the free end of the string is tied off against the adjacent end of the tape to hold the ruffling in place.” 
         [0009]    In another Example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,835 discloses “A roll of a continuous strip of a non-woven fabric having on only one side thereof a heat actuatable adhesive, said fabric having at least one longitudinally running perforated line running parallel with a side edge of said fabric, said fabric being free of any surface interruptions other than perforated lines running parallel with a side edge and its use in garment manufacture.” 
         [0010]    In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,272 discloses “An elongated strip of stiff material formed with a series of transverse folds across the strip. At least two adjacent panels between folds turn inwardly to form pleats between spaced control panels. Each control panel has at least two parallel string encasement means aligned with encasement means on other control panels. A control string through the control panes and extending beyond the strip draws all of the control panels into close proximity with adjacent control panels all in the same plane. Between adjacent control panels pleat panels are folded inwardly to form pleats which are then tacked to the control panels. All of the pleats are formed simultaneously and as the top of the drapery material is folded over the strip and tacked together to form a sleeve over the strip. Each panel may be tacked to the drapery material. The strip may be extruded of synthetic material and the folds formed by stamping living hinges at desired intervals in the strip.” 
         [0011]    In a final example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,673 discloses “A header tape for curtains or the like has loops for a hook and loop fastener woven at discrete, spaced apart regions. The loops are formed from the warp threads. The back of the tape is coated only in the regions, for fixing the loops, so that the intervening regions remain flexible for gathering. Gathering cords are of a material which will not be adhered to by the adhesive.” 
         [0012]    None of the foregoing examples, alone or in combination disclose the salient aspects of the present invention and thus, there remains an unmet need for a simple method to create permanent manipulations in textiles without the use of stitching or sewing. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0013]    Embodiments disclosed herein provide for a simple method to create permanent manipulations in textile materials through the use of an acrylic-based medium. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts a flow chart of one embodiment of the method of the disclosed herein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a permanently manipulated base textile with applied acrylic-based medium of one embodiment disclosed herein. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows another permanently manipulated base textile with applied acrylic-based medium of one embodiment disclosed herein. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows another permanently manipulated base textile with applied acrylic-based medium of one embodiment disclosed herein. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows another permanently manipulated base textile with applied acrylic-based medium of one embodiment disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the techniques described herein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc., to obtain similar results and/or results in specific scenarios. In other instances, well-known structures, materials or operations are not shown described in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects. 
         [0020]    Reference throughout this Application to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this Application are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
         [0021]    Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually exclusive. 
         [0022]    According to one embodiment, the method of the present invention is comprised of the following:
       1.) A base textile;   2.) An acrylic-based medium;   3.) And a method of application of the acrylic-based medium; further comprising:
           a. Laying down a protective sheet of plastic or other moisture barrier;   b. Placing the base textile on the sheet of plastic or other moisture barrier;   c. Creating within the base textile a desired manipulation;   
           d. Applying the desired amount of acrylic-based medium to the base textile on or near the desired manipulation found in the base textile;
           e. Letting the acrylic-based medium settle naturally on the base textile or spreading the medium as desired;   f. Allowing the acrylic-based medium to air dry without disturbance;   g. The resultant permanently manipulated base textile is then ready for use in a finished textile product.   
               
 
         [0033]    Suitable acrylic based mediums are known in the art. In one embodiment, the preferred acrylic-based medium is 100% acrylic outdoor latex house paint. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, the preferred acrylic-based medium is any acrylic paint. 
         [0035]    Suitable base textiles are also known in the act. In one embodiment, the preferred base textile comprises light weight fabrics such as chiffon, silk or cotton. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the desired manipulation in the base textile are one or more from the following list: pleats, ruffles, cinches, gatherings or any other physical effect or pattern. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment the amount of acrylic-based medium applied to the base textile is based upon the type of base textile and/or the desired manipulation. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, approximately one quart (946 ml) of acrylic-based medium is applied per every two (2) square feet of base textile. 
         [0039]    In yet another embodiment, the acrylic-based medium is applied to the base textile such that the subject acrylic-based medium resides on the outside of the finished textile product and is therefore visible. 
         [0040]    In yet another embodiment, the acrylic-based medium is applied to the base textile such that the acrylic-based medium resides on the inside of the finished textile product and is therefore not readily visible. 
         [0041]    In yet another embodiment, the acrylic-based medium is allowed to air dry twenty-four (24) hours. 
         [0042]    In another embodiment, the finished textile product is clothing. 
         [0043]    In another embodiment, there is no manipulation of the base textile. In this embodiment, the resultant textile, while without manipulation, will exhibit physical properties (e.g. stiffness, elasticity, strength/tensile strength) different from the base textile. 
         [0044]    In a one embodiment, the method of the present invention is comprised of the following:
       1.) A lightweight textile;   2.) 100% acrylic outdoor latex house paint;   3.) And a method of application of the 100% acrylic outdoor latex house paint; further comprising:
           a. Laying down a protective sheet of plastic;   b. Placing the base textile on the sheet of plastic;   c. Creating within the lightweight textile a desired manipulation;   d. Applying the desired amount of 100% acrylic outdoor latex house paint to the lightweight textile on or near the desired manipulation found in the lightweight textile;   e. Letting the 100% acrylic outdoor latex house paint to settle naturally on the lightweight textile or spreading the medium as desired;   f. Allowing the 100% acrylic outdoor latex house paint to air dry without disturbance for a period of 24 hours;   g. The resultant permanently manipulated lightweight textile is then ready for use in clothing.