Patent Publication Number: US-7581343-B1

Title: Quilt display frame

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Present invention relates to a novel and useful design frame for previewing quilting work. 
   Quilting requires the assemblage of pieces or patches of material into a pattern or design which are connected by sewing the same together into a unit. Typically, quilting is performed as a group effort requiring the imagination and creativity of many persons. 
   In the past, quilt designs have been predetermined by the use of stretching and drawing. In addition, quilt patterns have been predetermined by placing pieces of the quilt together on a floor or table in order to visualize the eventual pattern of the quilt. The prior system of laying out the pattern of the quilt has proven to be inconvenient and inefficient, since a great deal of horizontal space in a facility is required to achieve this result. 
   Many structures has been proposed to support fabric sheets for the purposes of making tapestries and quilts. For example, the U.S. Pat. Nos. 875,261, 895,744, 2,242,386 describes stretcher for supporting sheets of material for the purposes of drying the same following washing or other treatments in which such sheets are contacted by water. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,535, describes a vertical embroidery frame utilizing retaining bars which maybe adjusted and which also includes casters for mobility along a surface. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 940,070, 2,000,397, 4,665,638 describes quilting frames which hold a backing material in a horizontal position in order to allow the sewing of a quilt thereupon. These devices also include means for stretching the backing material to present a smooth and uninterrupted surface. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,177,720, 2,318,877, 4,658,521, 6,209,240 show quilting frame stands which holds a quilt backing sheet which is provided with components that are disassembled and reassembled to allow portability and versatility. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 991,476, 5,711,098 show quilting frame structures that hold quilts in a horizontal position and that include legs that are collapsible and extendable. 
   A design frame for previewing a quilting work which is convenient and portable would be a novel and useful item in the field of arts and crafts. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A design frame for previewing a quilting work which is novel and useful is hereinbelow described. 
   The design frame device of the present invention includes as one of its elements a sheet of flexible material which includes a peripheral edge. The sheet of flexible material may be formed of any cloth, polymeric material, elastomeric material, and the like. The peripheral edge of the flexible sheet of material maybe constructed with a plurality of sleeves leaving an inward portion of the flexible material as a flat surface, which is suitable for mounting, quilting patches. 
   At least a first and second, preferably third and fourth, frame poles are placed within the sleeves of the periphery of the flexible material to form a four-sided design frame. Of course, the design frame may take other shapes such as faceted polygons circular or curved outlines, and the like. 
   A novel connector is also shown in the present invention for connecting the corners of the design frame device of the present invention. For example, the connector may include a pair of tubes connecting the ends or the portions of the poles that extend outside the sleeves formed on the flexible sheet. A bridge or reinforcing member interconnects the first and second tubes and determines a particular angle necessary to create the shape of the overall design frame. The bridge may include reinforcing caps to add strength to the connector. 
   A link is also included which rotatably hooks onto a particular frame pole of the device of the present invention such link would normally connect to the pole adjacent a connector and includes a tube that mates with an outwardly extending leg which contacts the ground surface upon which the frame is supported. One or more of such links maybe employed with one or more ground contacting legs. 
   Elongated braces may also be used to support the flexible sheet such that the inner portion receiving the quilt patches generally lies in a plane. Each crossbrace may extend between opposite poles which are parallel to each other or ones that are separated in a non-parallel configuration. Also, it should be noted that the elements used as the frame poles, ground contacting legs, and the braces, may be in similar construction and interchangeable with one another. 
   It may be apparent that a novel and useful design frame device for previewing a quilting work has been hereinabove described. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide design frame device for previewing a quilting work which includes a flexible sheet that may be oriented in a upright configuration for easy viewing. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a design frame device for previewing quilting work which is easily assembled and disassembled for portability. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a design frame device for previewing quilting work which presents a large surface area and does not occupy a large horizontal space in a quilting facility. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a design frame device for previewing quilting work which utilizes novel connectors and links that permits such device to be erected and disassembled quickly and easily. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a design frame device for previewing quilting work which is easy to manufacture and maintain. 
   The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will be come apparent as the specification continues. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a rear elevational view of the device of the present invention in its erected configuration. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a typical corner of the frame device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the connector used in the frame device in the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the connector depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the link used with the ground supporting poles of the device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the link depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the frame device of the present invention, shown schematically with typical quilt patches displayed therefore upon. 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the frame depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
   

   For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which should be taken in conjunction with the above described drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
   Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the prior described drawings. 
   An embodiment of the invention as a whole shown in the drawings by reference character  10 . Design frame device  10  includes as one of its elements a sheet of material  12  which is flexible. Sheet  12  may take the form of any cloth, polymeric material, and the like. For example, flannel would be an ideal material for use with the present invention. Sheet  12  includes a peripheral edge  14  and an inner portion  16 . Side  18  of inner portion  16  is shown on  FIG. 1 , while display side  20  of inner portion  16  is depicted in  FIG. 7 . Sheet  12  includes sleeves  22 , 24 , 26 , 28  which form an outline of frame device  10  in the shape of a square. Of course, other shapes maybe formed by the structure of the present invention. 
   Frame poles  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  are also employed in the present invention. Frame poles  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  occupy sleeves  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 , respectively. Frame poles  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , maybe collapsible, such as poles employed with camping tents. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , it may be observed that a typical corner portion  38  of device  10  is depicted. As may be observed, frame poles  30 , and  32  each include a portion which lies within sleeves  22 , and  24 , respectfully, as well as a portion that lies outside of such sleeves. The same structure applies to the interconnection of the remainder of frame poles  34 , and  36  as maybe seen in  FIG. 1 . 
   A connector  40  holds frame poles  30 , and  32  in place at a right angle in the present embodiments of the invention. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it may be apparent that connected  40  possesses with tubes  42 , and  44  connector by a bridge member  46 . Bridge member  46  includes strengthening end caps  48  and  50 . That is to say, tubes  42 , and  44  have apertures  52  and  54 , respectfully, which accommodate frame poles  30  and  32  and are rounded in configuration. Connector  40  maybe formed of any rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic, wood, metal, and the like. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , it maybe seen that ground contacting poles  54 , and  56  are shown. Turning to  FIG. 2 , ground contacting pole  56  is held to frame pole  30  by a link  58  having a rotatable hook  60  which gently snaps onto frame pole  30 ,  FIG. 5 . Link  58  also includes an aperture  62  which accommodates ground contacting pole  56 . It should also be noted that sleeve  26  would contact ground surface  68  to form a stable support for device  10 . Although a pair of ground contacting poles  54 , and  56  are depicted in the drawings, any number of ground contacting poles maybe employed in the present invention. 
   Braces  70 , and  72  span or extend between frame poles  32 , and  36 , as well as frame poles  30 , and  34 , respectively.  FIG. 1 . Such braces may use link  58  in such connection for other means to achieve this result. Also, sleeves  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  may possess gaps or openings to allow the interconnections of braces  70 , and  72  with the particular frame poles  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  as is shown in the drawings. 
   In operation, the user assembles frame device  10  by placing frame poles  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  within sleeves  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 , respectively. Braces  70 , and  72  span frame pole  30 , and  34  as well as frame poles  32 , and  36 , respectively. Ground support legs  54 , and  56  are then attached to device  10 . It should be noted that connector  40  is employed to interconnect frame poles  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36 . Link  58  would be employed to interconnect ground port leg  54 , and  56 , while link  58  may also be used to hold braces  70 , and  72  to device  10 , as depicted.  FIG. 7  illustrates the attachment of quilting patches  74  to display surface  20  to form a particular desired pattern. Quilting patches  74  maybe held by pins, an adhesive, static electricity, and the like. Directional arrows  76  indicates the placement of quilting patches  74  on display surface  20  of device  10 ,  FIG. 8 . 
   While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.