GEMMED SEQUIN

Abstract

A sequin (4), comprising a carrier layer (1), a gemstone (2, 3) or a plurality of gemstones (2, 3) being arranged on one side of the carrier layer (1).

Description

The invention relates to a sequin, comprising a carrier layer.

Sequins have long been used as a particularly attractive decorative material, in particular for embellishing items of clothing. In this regard, the term “sequins” refers to round or oval, flat or faceted, very thin platelets made of metal, coated or uncoated plastics material, glass and also other materials. The sequins are adhesively bonded or sewn onto the clothing or other planar textile structures. For this purpose, provision may be made to provide the sequins with a hole.

This has been found to have the drawback that the color effects and light effects generated by the sewn-on or adhesively bonded-on sequins, in particular by reflection, refraction and scattering of light, are not very pronounced when metal sequins are used. This can be improved if, instead of metal sequins, use is made of glass sequins, in particular glass sequins cut with facets. However, this has been found to have the drawback that, on the one hand, the glass sequins, in particular if a large number of sequins of this type are arranged on an item of clothing, are extremely heavy, as a result of which the item of clothing in use can then be worn only to the wearer's disadvantage. On the other hand, connecting glass sequins to the item of clothing is also impractical, as there is no back provided specifically for this purpose.

The object of the invention is therefore to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide sequins which generate the light effects and also color effects necessary for decorative purposes while at the same time having a low mass.

This is achieved by a sequin having the features of claim 1.

That is to say, the fact that the sequin comprises a carrier layer, a gemstone or a plurality of gemstones being arranged on one side of the carrier layer, allows the sequin to have, as a result of the selection of an appropriate, in particular thin, carrier layer, on the one hand, a low mass and, on the other hand, as a result of the arrangement of the gemstones on only one side of the carrier layer, to provide the second side of the carrier layer for connection to a planar textile structure, i.e. for example an item of clothing. This allows this second side, with which the sequin is attached for example to an item of clothing, to remain untreated with regard to its visual properties, thus reducing the cost of the process for producing the sequins according to the invention. The arrangement of the gemstones on the one side of the carrier layer allows a broad range of visually attractive effects by scattering, reflection and refraction of light on the gemstones or color effects by various colors of the gemstones in combination with the colors or mirroring of the carrier layer to be achieved.

In this regard, the term “gemstones” includes all synthetic or natural precious stones and semiprecious stones, such as for example zirconia, but also imitation precious stones or glass stones, such as for example simili. If a plurality of gemstones are arranged on the one side of the carrier layer of the sequin, a plurality of these gemstones can have the same shape and size or else all have an arbitrary, for example irregular, shape.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims or will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made to make the carrier layer of the sequin of metal. A metallic carrier layer has the advantage of a particularly simple and inexpensive manner of production. Thus, metallic carrier layers of this type can easily be stamped. In addition, the selection of light metals, for example aluminum, produces a sequin which is particularly light with regard to its mass, in particular when the carrier layer is in addition also made so as to be thin. However, other materials for the carrier layer, such as for example coated or uncoated plastics material platelets, are of course also conceivable.

In a further embodiment, provision is made for the carrier layer to comprise plastics material or consist of plastics material. This further improves the problems of weight mentioned at the outset, as plastics material-containing carrier layers can be made so as to be particularly light. In addition, carrier layers embodied in this way can easily be manufactured in large-scale production.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the carrier layer comprises a metal-coated plastics material layer or consists of a plastics material layer coated in this way. This allows the advantage in terms of weight of the plastics material layer to be maintained while still providing visually attractive metallic effects, for example with regard to the reflection and absorption of rays of incident light. This allows e.g. the gleaming of gold or silver to be imitated. Provision may also be made to provide only the side of the plastics material-containing carrier layer on which the gemstone or gemstones are arranged with a metal layer, while the other side, with which the sequin is connected for example to an item of clothing, remains untreated.

It is particularly preferred to adhesively bond the gemstones to the carrier layer of the sequins. In this case, provision is made for at least one of the gemstones to be adhesively bonded to the carrier layer. It is however particularly advantageous to adhesively bond a plurality of or all the gemstones to the carrier layer. In this case, provision may be made to provide regions of the gemstones with an adhesive, for example a hot-melt adhesive, and to apply the gemstones to the carrier layer of the sequin by means of this adhesive. Examples of gemstones of this type provided with hot-melt adhesive are what are known as hot-fix glass stones. For the preferred adhesive bonding of the gemstones or gemstone to the carrier layer, it is of course equally possible to provide the carrier layer or regions thereof with an adhesive, for example a hot-melt adhesive. However, instead of a single or multiple-component hot-melt adhesive, other adhesives, which cure for example by irradiation with UV radiation and additionally or alternatively under elevated temperature, are also conceivable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for at least one of the gemstones arranged on the carrier layer to be embodied as a cut gemstone. However, it is particularly advantageous if a plurality of or all the gemstones are cut. Cut regions produce particularly attractive refractive or reflective properties on illumination of the gemstone used. This is true in particular at edges between cut regions. It is particularly preferred to use gemstones which are cut with facets, as this makes the above-mentioned reflective and refractive properties particularly impressive and allows, for example, the fire of a real diamond to be imitated. It is in this case advantageous to use glass stones, in particular cut glass stones, to embellish the sequin, i.e. for arrangement on the carrier layer of the sequin, as glass stones, in particular when cut appropriately, closely resemble natural crystals, but can be produced economically, in order to manufacture a large number of sequins according to the invention. Again, provision is made for at least one of the gemstones to be made of glass. However, it is particularly advantageous if this applies to a plurality of or all the gemstones.

In this regard, the gemstones can in principle have any desired shape, although gemstones with a flat table, for example roses and chatons, or gemstones with a flat back (“flat backs”) are particularly well suited, as this flat side can be provided particularly effectively with adhesive and as a result offers a large surface for connecting to the carrier layer, as a result of which this connection has particularly good adhesion.

For the sequin according to the invention, provision may be made to use at least one transparent gemstone. However, in other embodiments, colored gemstones can also be provided. In this case, it may be advantageous for these colored gemstones still nevertheless to be translucent to a certain degree, so that the desired reflective or refractive properties appear. Again, provision is made for at least one of the gemstones to have these color properties. It is however particularly advantageous if this applies to a plurality of or all the gemstones.

If a plurality of gemstones are arranged on the carrier layer of the sequin, an embodiment of the invention provides for the gemstones to be arranged in a regular pattern. An example of an arrangement of this type is a circular carrier layer, the gemstones being formed as corner points of a regular polygon at as uniform a distance as possible from the center point of the carrier layer.

In a further embodiment, provision is made to arrange just a single gemstone on the carrier layer, wherein it can in this case be advantageous to use this single gemstone to cover or cover-over the entire carrier layer. This provides a particularly convincing imitation of a sequin made entirely of glass.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for at least one through-hole to be arranged in the carrier layer of the sequin. This allows the weight of the sequin according to the invention to be further reduced. Annular carrier layers are in this case particularly preferred, wherein the gemstones can be arranged in a regular pattern on one side of the carrier layer. In this case, one of these through-holes can also serve to sew the sequin for example onto an item of clothing. Provision may also be made to arrange likewise a through-hole in at least one of the gemstones. This is advantageous in particular when only a single gemstone, which preferably covers the entire carrier layer, is arranged on the carrier layer. In this case, the through-holes of the gemstone and the carrier layer can be arranged one above another, thus forming a single continuous hole.

Moreover, particularly attractive visual effects can be achieved if a reflection layer is arranged between the carrier layer and the gemstones, for example in that a layer of this type is vapor-deposited onto the carrier layer. In particular in gemstones which are cut with facets, the reflective or refractive effects can be further intensified by a layer of this type. Even if use is made of a single gemstone which preferably covers the entire carrier layer and serves to imitate a glass sequin, this can generate an additional visual effect compared to a pure glass sequin.

Provision may also be made to arrange, additionally or alternatively to this reflective layer, what is known as a hologram foil between the carrier layer and the gemstone or gemstones. This changes the appearance of the sequin depending on the angle from which it is viewed, for example in that the color of the reflected light is dependent on the viewing angle.

Particularly preferably, in the sequin according to the invention, provision is made for the carrier layer to be made so as to be substantially round, for example with a diameter of between 25 mm and 150 mm. The sequin is therefore substantially cylindrical, the cylinder having a low height and one or more gemstones being arranged at one of the top faces. In this case, provision may be made for the largest diameter of the gemstones to be selected so as to be between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

The invention further relates to the use of one or more of the above-cited sequins as a decorative element of planar textile structures. In particular, the sequins can be used to embellish items of clothing or fashion accessories, such as for example handbags or shoes. The fact that the sequins according to the invention are manufactured cost-effectively, i.e. for example using a stamped-out metallic carrier layer or a metal-coated plastics material-containing carrier layer, in each case with cut glass stones as gemstones, allows a large number of sequins of this type to be used to embellish planar textile structures, without thereby incurring excessive costs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is in this case made for the second side of the carrier layer, i.e. that side that is remote from the gemstones, to be used for connecting to the planar textile structure and for the sequin to be adhesively bonded with this side to this planar structure. Again, hot-melt adhesives can for example be used for this purpose. Other adhesives are of course also conceivable, in particular if the item of clothing is temperature-sensitive.

Of course, provision may also be made for the sequins according to the invention, in particular if they are provided with one or more through-holes, to be sewn onto the planar textile structure.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail based on the description of the figures given with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a to 1c show three embodiments of the sequin according to the invention with a different number of gemstones arranged on the carrier layer;

FIGS. 2a to 2c are cross-sectional views along the straight intersection line indicated in FIG. 1a to 1c;

FIGS. 3a to 3c show three further embodiments of the sequin according to the invention with a different number of gemstones arranged on the carrier layer;

FIGS. 4a to 4c are cross-sectional views along the straight intersection line indicated in FIGS. 3a to 3c;

FIGS. 5a to 5c show three further embodiments of the sequin according to the invention with a different number of gemstones arranged on the carrier layer;

FIGS. 6a to 6c are cross-sectional views along the straight intersection line indicated in FIGS. 5a to 5c;

FIGS. 7a to 7c show three further embodiments of the sequin according to the invention with a different number of gemstones arranged on the carrier layer;

FIGS. 8a to 8c are cross-sectional views along the straight intersection line indicated in FIGS. 7a to 7c; and

FIG. 9 shows an item of clothing with a large number of sequins according to the invention arranged in a pattern.

FIG. 1a shows a sequin 4 according to the invention with a circular carrier layer 1 which preferably consists of a plastics material or comprises plastics material which is coated with a metal layer. A gemstone 2 is adhesively bonded to a first side 8 of the carrier layer 1. A further side 9 of the carrier layer, which is positioned opposite the first side 8, can for example serve to attach the sequin 4 to a planar textile structure 7. The gemstone 2 is a glass stone which is cut with facets in the form of what is known as a classical rose, i.e. with a flat underside, what is known as a flat back 5, a table and facets arranged therebetween. The gemstone 2 is adhesively bonded with the flat back 5 to the first side 8 of the carrier layer 1. In contrast to FIG. 1a, in FIG. 1b four gemstones 2 of this type, which are embodied as classical roses, are adhesively bonded to the first side 8 of the carrier layer 1. In this case, the center points of the gemstones 2 are arranged as corner points of a square in order to convey as symmetrical an impression as possible. In FIG. 1c, again, seven gemstones 2 of this type, which are embodied as classical roses, are adhesively bonded to the carrier layer 1, the center points of which lie on a circle which is concentric with the circumference of the carrier layer 1.

FIG. 2a shows the sequin 4 from FIG. 1a in a cross-sectional view along the straight intersection line marked by A-A. It may be seen in this case that the gemstone 2 is adhesively bonded with the flat back 5 to the first side 8 of the carrier layer 1. The carrier layer 1 itself has been made very thin and consists of a circular plastics material platelet which is provided with a metal layer. The metal layer itself is not shown. FIG. 2b shows the sequin 4 from FIG. 1b in a cross-sectional view along the straight intersection line marked by B-B. FIG. 2c, in turn, shows the sequin 4 from FIG. 1c in a cross-sectional view along the straight intersection line marked by C-C. The only difference in FIGS. 2a to 2c is the number of gemstones 2 adhesively bonded to the carrier layer 1.

FIGS. 3a to 3c correspond to the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 1a to 1c, apart from the fact that the gemstone or gemstones 3 in FIGS. 3a to 3c are embodied not as classical roses but as pointed roses. The pointed roses have in this case, just like classical roses, a flat underside, i.e. a flat back 5, and also a tapering peripheral surface which is cut with facets. Nevertheless, the pointed rose does not have a table, but is cut to form a point.

FIGS. 4a to 4c are the corresponding cross-sectional views of the embodiments of the sequins 4 according to the invention of FIGS. 3a to 3c along the straight intersection line marked by D-D, E-E and F-F. It may be seen in this case in particular that the gemstones 3 are embodied as pointed roses.

In FIG. 5a, a gemstone 2, which is embodied as a classical rose, is adhesively bonded to a first side 8 of a circular carrier layer 1, consisting of a plastics material platelet coated with metal. The carrier layer 1 has in this case a through-hole 6 which, on the one hand, serves to reduce the weight of the sequin 4 according to the invention and by means of which, on the other hand, the sequin 4 can be sewn to a textile planar structure 7. In FIGS. 5b and 5c, as in FIG. 1b and 1c, four and seven gemstones 2 respectively, which are embodied as classical roses, are arranged in the form of a regular quadrangle or at the same distance from the geometrical center point of the carrier layer 1 on the annular carrier layer 1.

FIGS. 6a to 6c are cross-sectional views of the sequins 4 according to the invention in the embodiments of FIGS. 5a to 5c along the straight intersection line marked by G-G, H-H, and I-I. These cross-sectional views show in particular the through-hole 6 with which the sequin according to the invention can be sewn to a textile planar structure 7. However, additionally or alternatively, the carrier layer 1 can, again, be adhesively bonded with the side 9, which is positioned opposite the first side 8, to a textile planar structure 7.

FIGS. 7a to 7c correspond to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5a to 5c apart from the type of gemstones 3 used. In FIGS. 7a to 7c, gemstones 3 embodied as pointed roses are adhesively bonded to the annular carrier layer 1 with the through-hole 6.

FIGS. 8a to 8c show the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 7a to 7c in cross-sectional views along the straight intersection line marked by J-J, K-K, and L-L in FIGS. 7a to 7c. The gemstones 3, which are embodied as pointed roses, and also the through-hole 6 are particularly apparent.

FIG. 9 illustrates the use of a large number of sequins 4 according to the invention on a planar textile structure 7 which is embodied as a T-shirt. In this case, the sequins 4 all have a through-hole 6 with which they are sewn to the T-shirt. For the sake of clarity, the gemstones 2, 3 are not shown. The sequins 4 are arranged in a visually attractive pattern on the planar textile structure 7. The gemstones 2, 3 have in this case a sparkling appearance and are therefore felt to be particularly attractive.

It goes without saying that the sequin according to the invention or the use according to the invention of the sequins is neither limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in particular in the figures, nor intended to be restricted thereby. In particular, this is true of the type and shape of the gemstones and the arrangement thereof on the sequin.

Claims

1. A sequin, comprising a carrier layer, wherein a gemstone or a plurality of gemstones is or are arranged on one side of said carrier layer.

2. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier layer is metallic.

3. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier layer comprises plastics material.

4. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier layer comprises a metal-coated plastics material layer.

5. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the gemstones is adhesively bonded to the carrier layer.

6. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the gemstones is cut.

7. The sequin as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the gemstones is cut with facets.

8. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the gemstones is made of glass.

9. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the gemstones is transparent or translucently colored.

10. The sequin as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the gemstones is transparent or translucently colored.

11. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of gemstones is arranged in a regular pattern on the one side of said carrying layer.

12. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gemstone is arranged on and completely covers the one side of said carrier layer.

13. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one through-hole is arranged in said carrier layer.

14. The sequin as claimed in claim 13, wherein a through-hole is arranged in at least one of the gemstones.

15. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein a reflective layer or a hologram foil is arranged between said carrier layer and between the gemstone or the gemstones.

16. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier layer is substantially circular.

17. The sequin as claimed in claim 16, wherein said carrier layer has a diameter of between 25 mm and 150 mm.

18. The sequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the largest diameter of the gemstone or the gemstones is between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

19. The sequin as claimed in claim 17, wherein the largest diameter of the gemstone or the gemstones is between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

20. The use of one or more sequins as claimed in claim 1 as a decorative element of planar textile structures, in particular of items of clothing.

21. The use as claimed in claim 20, wherein said planar textile structures is past of an item of clothing.

22. The use as claimed in claim 20, wherein said sequin or said sequins is or are sewn to said planar textile structure.

23. The use as claimed in claim 20, wherein said sequin or said sequins is or are adhesively bonded, with the side of the metallic carrier layer that is remote from the gemstone or the gemstones, to the surface of the planar textile structure (7).