Abstract:
A kit for sublimating a decoration into a surface of an object includes a plurality of particles for blasting into the surface of the object. At least one inker is for wrapping about the object. At least one membrane is for encapsulating the object and the inker. A vacuum hose is for mating to the membrane with an airtight connection. An oven is for heating the object.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is generally related to improvements regarding a method for sublimating a decoration on the surface of an object, and more particularly is related to a method for sublimating a decoration on the surface of an object in a durable manner.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In the sublimation art are known machines of such type, generally consisting of two interconnectable frames, in which one of the frames is integral with at least one membrane capable of elastic deformation. An inker, an object to be decorated, and a second inker are inserted into the membrane. The inkers have decorated surfaces on at least one side and the decorated surfaces are positioned adjacent a surface of the object. The machine is placed under vacuum so that the inkers, and in particular their decorated surfaces, are pressed against the surface of the object. The assembly, maintained under pressure, is placed in a furnace for sublimating the decoration over a few millimeters of depth into the surface of the object.  
         [0003]     This type of machines presents, however, some disadvantages with respect to durability of the sublimated image. It has been shown that images sublimated into objects using the type of sublimating process described above will fade, run, and otherwise become diminished in appearance when exposed to regular and/or substantial steam. For objects that are otherwise designed for regular and/or substantial steam exposure, a more rugged sublimated image would be desirable.  
         [0004]     Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a kit and method for sublimating a decoration into a surface of an object. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The kit for sublimating a decoration into a surface of an object includes a plurality of particles for blasting into the surface of the object. At least one inker is for wrapping about the object. At least one membrane is for encapsulating the object and the inker. A vacuum hose is for mating to the membrane with an airtight connection. An oven is for heating the object.  
         [0006]     The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for sublimating a decoration into a surface of an object. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: selecting a metal object for sublimation; B-blasting the object; priming the object; wrapping the object within at least one inker having at least one decorative design; vacuum-sealing the object and the at least one inker within a membrane; and heating the membrane and contents thereof for a period of time, wherein the decorative design is absorbed into a surface of the object.  
         [0007]     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a decorating device, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded cross-sectional view of a decorating device, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the decorating device, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the decorating device, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the decorating device, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the decorating device, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a decorating device, in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the decorating device, in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a method of sublimating using the decorating device, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a decorating device  1 , in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The decorating device  1  includes an upper membrane  1 A and a lower membrane  1 B, each attached to a rigid frame  1 C,  1 D, swiveling with respect to each other. Prior to closing the frames  1 C,  1 D, an inker  3 A, an object  2  to be decorated, and another inker  3 B were inserted between the membranes  1 A,  1 B. Each inker  3 A,  3 B is provided with a surface that is covered with a decoration  31 A,  31 B that will come into contact with the surface of the object  2  to be decorated. The decorating device  1  is then placed under vacuum, deforming the membranes  1 A,  1 B and the inkers  3 A,  3 B so that the decorations  31 A,  31 B are pressed against the object  2 . The decorating device  1  is inserted into a heated environment to enable the transfer of the decorations  31 A,  31 B of each inker  3 A,  3 B to the surface of the object  2 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded cross-sectional view of a decorating device  101 , in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The decorating device  101  includes an elastically deformable frame  140 , made out of a plastic material (e.g., silicone) that is resistant to high temperatures. The elastically deformable frame  140  includes an upper surface  141  and a bottom surface  142  that are provided with a round or analogous groove around the entire frame. The elastically deformable frame  140  is perpendicularly pierced between a first groove  143  and a second groove  144  of a hole (not shown) that permits the tight fitting of a metal connecting piece  145  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), the function of which will be discussed further herein.  
         [0020]     The first groove  143 , provided on the upper surface  141  of the elastically deformable frame  140 , may house under pressure a first retaining ring  148  of the same shape, that is provided in order to tightly retain a peripherical border of a first elastic membrane  149 . The second groove  144 , provided on the bottom surface  142  of the elastically deformable frame  140 , may house under pressure a second retaining ring  146  of the same shape, that is provided in order to tightly retain a peripherical border of a second elastic membrane  147 , substantially identical to the first elastic membrane  149 . The first elastic membrane  149  and the second elastic membrane  147  are made of a material, such as silicone, comparable to the one used for the elastically deformable frame  140 . The retaining rings  146 ,  148  may be long enough to encircle the entire periphery of the elastically deformable frame  140 .  
         [0021]     Prior to installing the first elastic membrane  149 , the operator positions on the second elastic membrane  147  a first inker  103 A in such a manner that the first decoration  131 A of the first inker  103 A does not come into contact with the second elastic membrane  147 . Thereafter, the object  102  to be decorated is placed on the first decoration  131 A of the first inker  103 A while a second inker  103 B is placed in such a manner that the second decoration  131 B of the second inker  103 B is in contact with said object  102 . The inkers  103 A,  103 B may be identical and may be made of an elastic material, such as a fabric, a knitted fabric or a thin sheet of a non-woven material.  
         [0022]     The operator positions the first elastic membrane  149  in such a manner that it attaches to the first retaining ring  148  on the upper surface of the elastically deformable frame  140 .  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the decorating device  101 , in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a top view of the decorating device  101 , in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the decorating device  101  includes a completely sealed interior space E. As shown in both  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the decorating device  101  is completely sealed, but air remains trapped within the elastic membranes  147 ,  149 .  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the decorating device  101  is connected to a vacuum pump  105  by means of the metal connecting piece  145  to generate a depression in the space E, limited by the elastically deformable frame  140  and the elastic membranes  147 ,  149 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the decorating device  101 , in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a top view of the decorating device  101 , in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It can be observed that with a sufficient vacuum, the elastically deformable frame  140  becomes distorted in its middle so that the elastic membranes  147 ,  149  and the inkers  103 A,  103 B correspond in shape to the shape of the object  102 , even at the level of the contact point. The decorating device  101  is placed inside of a furnace that may be preheated, for instance, to a temperature of approximately 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit so that the decorations  131 A,  131 B of the inkers  103 A,  103 B are transferred to the surface of the object  102  to be decorated.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a decorating device  201 , in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The third exemplary embodiment is similar to the second exemplary embodiment, with a primary exception being that a single elastic membrane bag  206  replaces the elastic membranes. The single elastic membrane bag  206  is folded in such a manner that it forms two substantially symmetrical sections  260 ,  261  having a similar surface area. A single aperture  265  is formed in the single elastic membrane bag  206  for the placing of the inkers  203 A,  203 B and the object  202  to be decorated inside of the single elastic membrane bag  206 . The inkers  203 A,  203 B are positioned in such a manner that their decorations  231 A,  231 B are in contact with the outer surface of the object  202 .  
         [0025]     The single aperture  265  of the single elastic membrane bag  206  interacts with a rod  207  so as to tightly close the single elastic membrane bag  206 . The rod  207  is provided with two grooves, an upper groove  270  and a lower groove  271 , that are provided for the insertion of retaining rings  272 ,  273 . The retaining rings  272 ,  273  hold the free extremities of the substantially symmetrical sections  260 ,  261  in the grooves  270 ,  271 , respectively, in order to close the single elastic membrane bag  206  and constitute the sealed space E. The rod  207  is perpendicularly pierced and between the grooves  270 ,  271  of a hole that permits the tight fitting of a metal connecting piece  275 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the decorating device  201 , in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connecting piece  275  is connected to a vacuum pump that allows the obtaining of a depression inside the single elastic membrane bag  206 , in such a manner that the substantially symmetrical sections  260 ,  261 , the inkers  203 A,  203 B and the decorations  231 A,  231 B correspond in shape to the shape of the object  202 , and in particular at the level of the contact point. The decorating device  201  is placed inside a possibly preheated furnace in order to effectuate the transfer of the decorations onto the surface of the object  202 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show one possible embodiment for the present invention using a single elastic membrane bag  206 . Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other variations on the single elastic membrane bag  206  may be devised, which the primary requirements being that the object  202  and the inkers  203 A,  203 B must be contained within the single elastic membrane bag  206  and the single elastic membrane bag  206  must be capable of being vacuum-sealed over the object  202  and the inkers  203 A,  203 B.  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart  300  illustrating a method of sublimating, using the decorating device  1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, portions of code, or steps that include one or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the present invention in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present invention.  
         [0029]     As is shown by block  302 , a metal object  2  is selected for sublimation. The object  2  is B-blasted (block  304 ). The object  2  is primed with paint and coated with a polymer (block  306 ). The object  2  is wrapped within at least one inker  3 A,  3 B having at least one decorative design  31 A,  31 B (block  308 ). The object  2  and the at least one inker  3 A,  3 B are vacuum-sealed within a membrane  1 A,  1 B (block  310 ). The membrane  1 A,  1 B and contents thereof are heated for a period of time, wherein the decorative design  31 A,  31 B is absorbed into a surface of the object  2  (block  312 ).  
         [0030]     B-blasting is a technique for providing texture to an item. A special chamber may be used to perform B-blasting. The object  2  may be cleaned and placed within the special chamber. Particles are projected at the object  2  at a high velocity, joining with the object  2 . In some practices of this invention, the object  2  may be blasted for about 20 minutes with about 75 pounds of particles. In the present invention, the B-blasting is performed to provide a more suitable surface to the object  2 , allowing the object  2  to be more durable after sublimation. The particles used may be sand or other dry media. Those having ordinary skill in the art may know other similarly effective particles.  
         [0031]     The object  2  may be cleaned before and/or after B-blasting. Cleaning may involve agitating the object  2  in tank of heated, soapy water and thoroughly rinsing the object. After the object  2  has been B-blasted, cleaning may result in removing some loose particles from the object  2 . Cleaning is also useful for preparing the object  2  to be primed. Other means of cleaning, including hand washing, the object  2  may be known to those having ordinary skills in the art and are considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0032]     The priming provides another layer on the object  2  that will absorb sublimated ink. The paint should substantially cover the object  2  evenly. The object  2  may be primed using a paint spray gun, a paintbrush, or other tools known to those having ordinary skill in the art. The primer may be absorbed, in part, by the particles blasted into the object  2 . The object  2  is also coated with a polymer. The polymer may, for example, be polyester. The polymer may be applied in any of a number of ways known to those having ordinary skill in the art for applying polymers to metals, including electrostatically spraying the polymer onto the object  2 .  
         [0033]     After priming and after coating, the object  2  may be baked. Baking the object  2  operates to cure the priming. Baking the object  2  may involve putting the object  2  in an oven. The object may bake at temperatures exceeding four hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The object  2  may also be heated immediately prior to being primed. Other means of baking to cure the object  2  may be known to those having ordinary skills in the art and are considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0034]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.