Patent Abstract:
Trim with decorative double lipped fastening structure comprising a first set of threads folded near a midpoint and knotted together providing a knot near a midpoint of the threads with a fringe end and a folded end on opposite sides of the knot. A second set of threads adjacent the first set of threads is similarly folded and knotted. A lip is provided by a cross stitching connecting the folded ends of the first and second set of threads side by side. A second lip of thread having a plurality of folds folded to length equal to the length of the folded ends of the first and second set of threads are held together by a cross stitching. An end of the second lip is fastened adjacent the first and second knots by a cross stitching providing a bottom of a fastening channel of uniform depth.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to decorative trim and more specifically relates to textile trim with a decorative double lipped fastening structure.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Different types of decorative fringe trim for decorating objects such as rugs, pillows, blankets and other similar items have been in use for over a thousand years. The structure of the portion of the trim used to fasten the trim to another object such as a piece of material has changed very little over time, consisting typically of a single lipped fastening structure for fastening the trim to a single face of an item. Therefore, it is necessary when using trim of this type to separately fasten a separate piece of decorative trim to the opposite face of the item if a uniform appearance is desired. This additional work in creating an aesthetically appealing finished product requires a great amount of time and skill to affix the trim to an item properly. Decorative trim of this type has to be aligned with the item to which it is being fastened requiring preparation time and equipment that maintains the alignment. An example of this type of decorative trim is U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,616 issued to Passons. The Passons patent discloses a tufted fringe product and a process of making the same. The product has an elongated flexible tape through which a plurality of yarns are stitched to form longitudinally spaced fringe tufts projecting from one face of the tape.  
           [0005]    In order to reduce the amount of time and complication in securing trim pieces to other objects, several channel shaped fastening structures have been developed that fasten about the edge of a piece of material so as to provide trim that covers two faces of a piece of material. Some of these channel shaped structures are described here.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,233 issued to Weichman discloses a channel-shaped two-wire carrier that is coated with elastomeric material to form an edge protector trim strip. A plurality of strands of material extending longitudinally of the carrier is interwoven with the support and reinforcing wires to maintain spaced relation.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,351 issued to Czempoyesh discloses a device for containing the force of an explosion comprising a blanket or curtain of flexible material. The fabrics are bound together at their edges with a border of tough material extending around the periphery of the blanket or curtain. However, this prior art reference does not disclose the channel shaped connection structure being constructed of woven material that integrally forms the tufted trim.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,397 issued to Kanehara discloses an opening trim including a body approximately U-shaped in section. Each of the holding projections has a primary lip projecting rearward from a front portion of an inner side surface of the body.  
           [0009]    However, many of these channel shaped fastening structures have been developed for different applications and therefore do not address issues associated with providing a decorative trim. More specifically, the prior art does not disclose a double lipped decorative trim presenting a similar woven appearance on either side of the material to which the trim is attached. Therefore, there is a need for a textile trim with a decorative double lipped fastening structure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In order to create an item such as a blanket, pillow, or drapery with a tasseled fringe having similar decorative connecting structure on opposite faces of the item, makers of the item in the past would have to first attach a single lipped fringe onto one face of the item and then place a second decorative panel on the opposite face of the item so that both faces presented a uniform appearance. The claimed invention provides a textile trim with a decorative double lipped fastening structure reducing the number of steps involved in creating an item having a tasseled fringe with similar decorative connecting structure on opposite faces of the item.  
           [0011]    An object of the claimed invention is to provide a decorative trim that is quickly and easily attachable to a piece of material without need for alignment with the item of which it is to be attached.  
           [0012]    Another object of the claimed invention is to provide a decorative trim with a decorative woven lip on two faces of an item of which the trim is to be attached.  
           [0013]    A further object of the claimed invention is to provide a one piece double lipped decorative trim.  
           [0014]    An even further object of the claimed invention is to reduce the number of step required to create an item with a tasseled fringe having similar decorative connecting structure on opposite faces of an item.  
           [0015]    To achieve the foregoing objectives as well as others that will become apparent after the reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and viewing the appended drawings a double lipped decorative fringe is provided. The claimed invention provides a decorative trim with decorative double lipped fastening structure comprising a first set of threads folded near a midpoint and knotted together forming a knot near a midpoint of the threads with a fringe end and a folded end on opposite sides of the knot. A second set of threads adjacent the first set of threads is similarly folded and knotted. A lip is formed by a cross stitching connecting the folded ends of the first and second set of threads side by side. A second lip of thread having a plurality of folds folded to length equal to the length of the folded ends of the first and second set of threads are held together by a cross stitching. An end of the second lip is fastened adjacent the first and second knots by a cross stitching forming a bottom of a fastening channel of uniform depth.  
           [0016]    The claimed invention also provides a method making a decorative fringe have a double lipped connecting structure. The method comprises first cutting lengths of thread to a predetermined length within a predetermined tolerance. The threads are then arranged with at least one first length of thread along side at least one second length of thread so that a long axis of the first length is substantially parallel with a long axis of the second length. The folding first and second lengths are folded at a common predetermined point forming a folded end and a fringe end so that portions of the lengths on each side of the fold are parallel with each other. The first and second lengths are the knotted into a tuft where the folded end and the fringe end are on opposite side of the knot. The knotted tufts are then arranged side by side and connected together. The outer ends of the folded ends are then secured preventing unraveling of the tufts.  
           [0017]    At least one third length of thread is folded to a predetermined folded length a plurality of times so that the folded lengths lie side by side. The folded lengths are then stitched together with a cross stitch forming a textile lip. The edge of the textile lip is then fastened to the folded ends.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a front view of the double lipped decorative trim.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the double lipped decorative trim.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the double lipped decorative trim.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows placement of a piece of material between the two decorative lips.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows the double lipped decorative trim fastened to a piece of material.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the double lipped decorative trim.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows the alternate embodiment trim being manufactured on an automatic crocheting machine.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows the alternate embodiment trim being simultaneously manufactured with the attached lip on an automatic crocheting machine.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows the attached lip being sewn to the decorative lip forming the double lipped decorative trim.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    The textile trim with decorative double lipped fastening structure  10  is shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 . The double lipped fastening structure allows the trim  10  to be quickly and easily connected to the edge of a piece of fabric  20  while presenting a finished connection between the trim  10  and the fabric  20  on opposite faces of the fabric as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The trim  10  generally comprises a knotted tuft  30  having a decorative lip  40  and an attached decorative lip  50 .  
         [0028]    The knotted tuft  30  shown in FIG. 2 is made up of a plurality of threads  60 . The threads  60  used in a knotted tuft  30  of the claimed invention can be of the same type and color, or the threads can be of different types and/or colors depending upon the application. The first knotted tuft  30  is made by first arranging the plurality of threads  60  in parallel along their length. Approximately half of the threads  60  are then folded into a first grouping  80  approximately at the midpoint of the threads so as to be nested one thread inside of another with the shafts of the threads  60  lying side by side forming a relatively flat braid. The folding of the threads  60  creates a folded end  90  and a fringed end  100 . The remaining threads are then similarly folded into a second grouping  110 . The first  80  and second grouping  110  are then aligned side by side with the folded ends  90  adjacent each other and the fringed ends  100  adjacent each other. The first  80  and second groupings  110  are then knotted together at a point mid way between the folded ends  90  and the fringed ends  100 . The knot  120  is knotted such that the threads  60  making the first  80  and second groupings  110  are readily visible within the knot  120 . This allows the color of each of the threads  60  to be seen increasing the aesthetic presentation of the knotted tuft  30 .  
         [0029]    A plurality of knotted tufts  130  can be assembled side by side with the folded ends  90  of each of the knotted tufts  30 ,  130  being aligned to form the edge  140  of the decorative lip  40  as shown in FIGS.  1 ,  3 - 5 . The plurality of knotted tufts  130  are stitched together by a cross stitching  150  placed above the knot  120  running generally perpendicular to the lengths of the knotted tufts  30 ,  130 . Preferably, a plurality of cross stitches  150  made of monofilament stitching are used to create the decorative lip  40  so that the folded ends  90  of each of the knotted tufts  30 ,  130  act together to form the lip  40 . However threads of different colors can also be used to stitch the knotted tufts together.  
         [0030]    The attached decorative lip  50  is made similar to what is known as a gimp type of decorative trim. However, the attached lip  50  differs structurally in that it does not require the same type of cross stitching that a gimp type trim requires due to the fact that the attached lip  50  is designed to be stitched to the decorative lip  40  before use as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3- 5 . The attached decorative lip  160  is preferably made so that the appearance of the attached lip  50  matches the appearance of the decorative lip  40  created by the folded ends  90  of the knotted tufts  30 ,  130  creating a uniform appearance between the decorative lip  40  and the attached lip  50  so that the trim  10  presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance when connected to an item as shown in FIG. 5. The attached decorative lip  160  is made up of a plurality of threads  170 . The threads  170  used in the attached lip are preferably of the same type and color as the threads  60  used in the knotted tufts  30 ,  130 , but may be of differing type and/or color depending upon the desired application of the trim  10 .  
         [0031]    The threads  170  that make up the attached lip  50  are first arranged in parallel along their length. The threads  170  are then folded so that one thread is nested inside another with the shafts of the threads  170  lying side by side forming a relatively flat braid. The threads  170  are then repeatedly folded with the shafts of the threads  170  lying roughly parallel and side by side as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The distance between each fold is determined by matching the overall length of the attached lip  50  with the length of the decorative lip  40  formed by the folded ends  90  of the knotted tuft  30 . The folds  180  of the attached lip  50  are then stitched together to form a discrete relatively flat panel. Preferably, a plurality of cross stitches  190  made of monofilament thread are used to create the attached lip.  
         [0032]    A Pfaff brand sewing machine having model number 463 900 57 is preferably used to stitch the attached lip  50  to the knotted tufts  30 ,  130  just above the knots  120  of the knotted tufts  30 ,  130  by a cross stitching  200  that form the bottom of a generally U shaped connection channel or pocket  210  as shown in FIG. 9. The cross stitching  200  connecting the attached lip  50  to the knotted tufts  30 ,  130  creates a uniform stopping point  220  for material  20  being inserted between the decorative lip  40  and the attached lip  50  so that the lips extend over the material  20  to substantially equal distances creating an aesthetically pleasing connection between the trim  10  and the material  20 .  
         [0033]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 where the decorative trim  230  does not have knotted tufts. The threads  240  that make up the decorative lip  250  are first arranged in parallel along their length. The threads  240  are then folded so that one thread is nested inside another with the shafts of the threads  240  lying side by side forming a relatively flat braid. The threads  240  are then repeatedly folded with the shafts of the threads lying roughly parallel and side by side. The overall length of the decorative lip  250  that is desired determines the distance between each fold  260 .  
         [0034]    The tassel portions  270  of the decorative trim are made by first arranging threads  280  in parallel along their length. The threads  280  are then folded so that one thread is nested inside another with the shafts of the threads lying side by side. The folded ends  290  of the tassel portions  270  are interspaced between the folds  260  of the decorative lip  250 . The decorative lip  250  and the tassels portions  270  are stitched together by a cross stitching  300 . Preferably, a plurality of cross stitches made of monofilament stitching are used to create the decorative lip  250  so that the folds  260  of the lip  250  act together to form one total discrete piece. However threads of different colors can also be used to stitch the decorative lip  250  together depending up the desired aesthetic effect. A greater number of cross stitching  300  is used when a larger lip is created so that the threads within the lip will function as one discrete piece.  
         [0035]    A decorative attachable lip  310  similar in construction to the attahced lip  50  is attached to the decorative lip  250  by way of a cross stitching  320 .  
         [0036]    The claimed invention also includes a method of making a textile trim with decorative double lipped fastening structure as shown in FIGS.  7 - 9 . The decorative trim  230  shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are manufactured using a Decortronic model crocheting machine made by Comez of Italy. The crocheting machine is setup so that it creates the knotted tufts  30 ,  130  and the attached lip simultaneously, ensuring that the appearance of the decorative lip  250  and the attached lip  310  are the same. FIG. 9 illustrates how the decorative lip and attached lip are made on the Decortronic.  
         [0037]    The concept of making the decorative lip  250  and the attached lip  310  simultaneously so that they may be joined together to form a double lipped article to be applied on opposite outer faces of an item is a new method of manufacture. Previously, single lipped decorative trim and trim known as gimps have been made separately for different applications. However, the claimed method entails simultaneously creating the decorative trim  250  and the attached lip  310  with the idea in mind of stitching the two items together forming a double lipped decorative trim  10 ,  230 . With this thought in mind, the outer faces of the decorative trim  330 ,  340 ,  350 , and  360  and the attached lip  310  are stitched with decorative design.  
         [0038]    Previously, decorative trim was manufactured with a single lip so that it could be attached to an item by placing the single lip between two pieces of material. A common example of this type of attachment is typically shown in a pillow with decorative trim. Pillows of this type are commonly made by placing the single lip between the edges of the two pieces of material making the faces of the pillow so as to hide the connecting structure on the decorative trim.  
         [0039]    With the creation of the double lipped decorative trim design, it is now possible to connect the lips on the outer surfaces of an item so that the connecting structures themselves add to the aesthetic presentation of the item. This is achieved by manufacturing the attached lip simultaneously so that the lips may be displayed as part of the overall appearance of an item.  
         [0040]    Although the invention has been described by reference to some embodiments it is not intended that the novel device be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3