FABRIC ARTWORK WITH MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR NESTING IN FRAME
Framed fabric artwork features an artwork canvas with an artwork body having a first set of tabs and an orthogonal second set of tabs wherein the rectangular artwork body has a back surface configured to be attached to a first composite backing structure. The first set of tabs is folded beneath the first composite backing structure and adhered to it. A second composite backing structure is configured to be attached to a lower side of the first set of tabs and the second set of tabs is folded beneath the second composite backing structure and adhered to it. A third composite backing structure is adhered to the lower side of the second set of tabs and also joined to the artwork body which, in turn, is nested in a unitary frame with a rectangular well with upright walls at an outer periphery. The outer periphery of the frame may have bosses adaptable for jewelry uses.
The present invention generally relates to backing assemblies incorporating fabric works of art for mounting in special frames.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNeedlepoint exemplifies fabric works of art. It uses thread stitches in woven canvas in order to create a new fabric. Typically employing an open grid construction, the woven canvas includes horizontal (woof) and vertical (warp) threads that are woven together to create openings, called cells, in a special needlepoint fabric. The size of the canvas is generally described by the number of cells (counts, stitches, etc.) per inch (e.g., 13 cells per inch, etc.).
Needlepoint thread or filling yarn is typically pulled through the cells from the front to the back by techniques of interlacing the yarn through the woven canvas typically using a tapestry needle. The portion of the canvas with the needlepoint thread or yarn is commonly called the stitchwork, and is generally surrounded by an unstitched canvas border.
Often, the completed new fabric is subsequently finished into a variety of items such as pillows, rugs, eyeglass cases, clothing, etc. Since the integrity of the stitchwork is generally maintained by the surrounding unstitched canvas border, the border is generally hidden from view rather than cut away. For example, in one technique, commonly used with pillows, etc., an additional piece of cloth fabric is sewn onto the canvas such that the edge of the fabric is aligned with the edge of the stitched needlepoint covering the unfinished areas. However, this technique generally requires that a visible perimeter boundary be displayed along with the stitchwork.
In contrast, in a technique commonly used with display frames, the canvas may be folded at a first parallel line of unstitched openings and subsequently bent underneath and secured to the underside of the stitchwork. However, although the perimeter boundary is hidden from view, folding the canvas at each of the canvas corners tends to be problematic. For example, since a portion of one folded side is typically placed over another perpendicular folded side, a double-thickness build-up is created at each corner. Consequently, the unstitched canvas at these right-angle corners may be difficult to hide, arid hence may be unsightly.
Consequently, display frame molding with rabbets, i.e. deep notches at the corners, is often used to hide some of the canvas build-up. However, when mounted, a rabbet also tends to cover a portion of the stitchwork, further detracting from the full presentation of the needlework, particularly with framed needlepoint jewelry applications, where the actual size of the stitchwork tends to be relatively small.
In view of the foregoing, there is desired an enhanced framed display apparatus for fabric works of art, particularly stitchwork but also needlepoint fabric artworks, such as quilting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention features fabric works of art mounted snugly within a unitary frame that hides the perimeter boundary of the artwork or stitchwork in the case of needlepoint. The fabric work of art may project forwardly slightly from the frame but the artwork is nested snuggly by walls of a well that are formed in the frame. The well may be machined or otherwise formed in a block of frame material such that the well only exposes the surface of the artwork.
In accordance with the present invention, a fabric artwork is prepared for mounting by establishing a shape resembling a Greek cross, with the fabric art in a center section and members extending outwardly from the borders of the fabric art. The outwardly extending members are first and second sets of orthogonal tabs that will be folded below the center section. The present invention employs three composite backing structures, two associated with each of the sets of tabs and one with a frame.
A composite backing structure preferably employs a first double sided adhesive film, a substrate attached to the first adhesive film and a second double sided adhesive film attached to the substrate in a sandwich construction with exposed adhesive facing outwardly on both sides. Alternatively, a composite backing structure can be a layer of semi-viscous adhesive spread uniformly. To avoid contact of semi-viscous adhesive with the fabric artwork composite backing structures involving adhesive films are preferred for the upper two composite backing structures. Double sided adhesive film is commercially available.
A first composite backing structure is applied against the center section of the fabric art. A first set of tabs is folded beneath the first composite backing structure and attached to exposed adhesive film. Preferably the tabs are cut so that they do not overlap but rather fit like double doors closing over exposed adhesive film of the composite backing structure such that folded tabs form a substantially flat surface.
A second composite backing structure is applied against the first set of tabs and attached to exposed adhesive film. Then the second set of tabs is folded beneath the second composite backing structure and attached to exposed adhesive film. The tabs, cut as described above, close over the exposed adhesive film forming a substantially flat surface. The fabric artwork is secured to a frame having a rectangular or square well in which the fabric artwork snugly rests. A third adhesive backing structure, the lowermost, is used to adhesively secure the exposed side of the second set of tabs to the frame. The preferred type of composite backing structure is a layer of hot melt adhesive that is dispensed by nozzles in uniform stripes across the well. When the second set of tabs is pushed against the hot melt adhesive, the adhesive spreads to create a bond across most of surface of the well and the tabs. Another composite backing structure could a be a double sided adhesive film of high adhesive strength without any substrate attached.
Referring to
Fabric artwork 106 may be created from scratch, or from a kit, for example a needlepoint kit comprising an initial design on a canvas, as well as required materials, e.g. plain, printed or painted canvas, threads, needle, and instructions. Other artwork kits, such as quilt kits also may be used.
Referring to
Referring to
In order to protect stitchwork 125 during the mounting process, unstitched portions of needlepoint canvas 124 are stiffened by adding a coating of liquid adhesive or other liquid stiffener such as varnish. Penetrating the canvas threads, the adhesive may adhere to the “woof” (horizontal) and “warf” (vertical) threads together at the crossover points, consequently creating a stable sheet that holds together when bent.
In an advantageous manner, a water-based polyvinyl acetate, or other appropriate adhesive, is applied to the unstitched portions of needlepoint canvas 124 with a brush. Without substantially coating the thread, the adhesive may be brushed substantially close to the stitchwork. Per example, the adhesive may be placed on top of a row of unstitched thread that borders the outside of a stitched needlepoint row in stitchwork 125. Once the adhesive has substantially dried, corners 130 may then be removed with a sharp knife, such as with a Xacto blade, with minimal unraveling damage to the stitchwork, leaving the canvas in a Greek cross shape, shown in
With reference to
In a beneficial manner, the cross-shaped canvas of
Returning to
Referring to
Consequently, a substantially Greek cross-shaped canvas 200 may be created with a first set of tabs 133a-b (as shown in
Referring to
In contrast to structural adhesives that form a permanent bond, hardening via processes such as evaporation of solvent, reaction with radiation, chemical reaction, or cooling, pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) form a bond by the application of light pressure to bond the adhesive with the adherent, here substrate 140.
Pressure sensitive adhesive are generally designed with a balance between flow and resistance to flow. The bond forms because the adhesive is soft enough to flow, or wet, the adherend. The bond has strength because the adhesive is hard enough to resist flow when stress is applied to the bond. In addition, in an advantageous fashion, in order to further allow adjustment of a needlepoint canvas during the assembly process, the pressure-sensitive film may be initially removable, but build adhesion to a permanent bond after several hours of days. Hot melt adhesives, applied by multiple parallel nozzles are useful applicators for bonding a completed artwork assembly to the well of a frame.
With reference to
In the configuration of
Referring to
Alternative artwork mounting assemblies are seen in
In
Referring to
In one insertion method, artwork mounting assembly 150 is mounted into well 154 first by placing the third composite backing structure in the well and then placing one edge (two corners 160a-b) inside well 154 against a well wall, and then slightly buckling the pad and placing a third corner 160c down inside. The final corner 160d may be insured with a narrow edged insertion tool, such fan a Xacto knife.
In addition, internal corners 152a-d of frame 104 are machined or manufactured in a curved manner in order to substantially reduce the wrinkles when the combined composite backing structure 1150 is inserted into well 154.
The third composite backing structure has the greatest variety of possibilities to secure the artwork mounting assembly 150 in well 154. Examples of possibilities include natural adhesives, synthetic adhesives (e.g., elastomers, thermoplastic, and thermosetting adhesives, etc.), drying adhesives (typically polymers dissolved in a solvent), contact adhesives, hot melt adhesives (e.g., thermoplastic adhesives, etc.) reactive adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, removable adhesives, and viscous adhesives (e.g., GE Household Glue (Clear Silicone), etc.).
While a needlepoint canvas has been described as a preferred embodiment, other fabric artworks could be used, such as micro-quits and the like. Advantages of the invention include the ability to create an enhanced framed fabric artwork apparatus for use in jewelry.
Claims
1. Framed fabric art comprising:
- a unitary frame having an outer periphery and a central well less than one-quarter inch deep with upright side walls; and
- a fabric artwork mounting assembly having a fabric artwork body with peripheral tabs folded beneath the body, the artwork mounting assembly adhesively secured in the central well of the frame and contacting the side walls of the well in a nested relation with the well.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fabric artwork mounting assembly has at least two composite backing structures beneath the fabric artwork body.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least one of the composite backing structures comprises a substrate sandwiched between double sided adhesive films.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a third composite backing structure secures the fabric artwork mounting assembly to the central well.
5. Framed fabric art comprising:
- a fabric artwork canvas, said canvas including a fabric artwork body, a rectangular body back surface with projecting tabs including a first set of tabs, and a second set of tabs;
- a first composite backing structure: attached to the artwork canvas including a substrate having first and second adhesive films on opposite sides of the substrate, wherein said rectangular artwork back surface is configured to be attached to said first adhesive film, and said first set of tabs attached to said second adhesive film, a second composite backing structure attached to a side of the first set of tabs and opposite the first composite backing structure and a second set of tabs attached to said second composite backing structure on a side opposite the first set of tabs, with both sets of tabs and composite backing structures behind the artwork body;
- a frame having dimensions nesting the artwork body within a rectangular well, said rectangular well including a well rear surface, wherein said second of tabs is configured to be attached to said rear surface by a third composite backing structure.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the frame is configured as a jewelry pendant.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the frame has at least one eyelet projecting from the outer periphery of the frame.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the frame is selected from metal, plastic, wood and ceramics.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the frame is configured as a jewelry brooch.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said first adhesive film, said second adhesive film and said third adhesive film, includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.
11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said third composite backing structure is an adhesive.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said adhesive is one of a natural adhesive, a synthetic adhesive, a drying adhesive, a contact adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, a reactive adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a removable adhesive.
13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said well has rounded corners.
14. The apparatus of claim 5, where said frame is made of one of metal, plastic, and ceramic.
15. A method of manufacturing framed fabric artwork comprising:
- providing a fabric artwork canvas including a rectangular artwork body back surface with projecting tabs in a Greek cross shape including a first set of tabs and a second set of tabs;
- adhering a first composite backing structure to the artwork body back surface; adhering a first set of tabs behind the first composite backing structure, the first set of tabs haying an exposed back surface;
- adhering a second composite backing structure to the exposed back surface of the first set of tabs;
- adhering a second set of tabs behind the second composite backing structure, the second set of tabs having an exposed back surface;
- providing a frame defining a rectangular well;
- securing said second set of tabs in said rectangular well.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of securing said second set of tabs in said rectangular well is by adhering a third composite backing structure joining the second set of tabs onto said rectangular well.
17. The method of claim 16 further defined by making a composite backing structure by providing a substrate with opposed major surfaces and double sided adhesive film on each major surface.
18. The method of claim 16 further defined by making a composite backing structure by providing a double sided adhesive film.
19. The method of claim 16 further defined by making a composite backing structure by providing an adhesive layer.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 22, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 25, 2008
Inventor: Frederick A. Slautterback (Sand City, CA)
Application Number: 11/689,999
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101);