GB2461877A

GB2461877A - Method of decorating a fabric article

Info

Publication number: GB2461877A
Application number: GB0812861A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shafique Hussein
Original assignee: Elite Labels Ltd
Current assignee: Elite Labels Ltd
Priority date: 2008-07-15
Filing date: 2008-07-15
Publication date: 2010-01-20
Also published as: US20100319107A1; GB0812861D0

Abstract

A method of decorating a fabric article 1 such as a t-shirt or sweatshirt. The method comprises the steps of first creating a design 2 upon the surface of the article, for example by applying a heat transfer to the article, then colouring the design using a washable ink and finally washing the fabric article so that the ink is removed from the fabric article but the colourable design is retained. In this manner the present invention provides a method of providing a fabric article with a design that may be temporarily coloured, washed and then re-coloured in a substantially different manner if the user so wishes. The method is particularly suitable for use with cotton fabric articles. Washable ink pens are preferred for colouring in the design.

Description

TITLE

Method of Decorating a Fabric Article

DESCRIPTION

Background of Invention

It is often desirable to provide a fabric article with a colourful decorative design. For example, t-shirts, sweatshirts are often provided with colourful decorative designs on their front. Designs may be provided on fabric articles using any of a large number of well-known and well-understood methods. For example, heat transfers may be used to permanently apply a design to a surface of a fabric article.

Currently, only permanently coloured designs are applied to fabric articles. That is, once a design has been applied to an article there is no available method or means for easily and temporarily altering the colour of a design. If a fabric article with a differently coloured design is desired the desired design must be applied to a separate fabric article. Therefore, there is a need for a method of decorating a fabric article that enables a temporarily coloured design to be provided upon a surface of the fabric article and wherein the colouring of the design may be altered, if it is desired to do so.

Summary of Invention

The present invention provides a method of decorating a fabric article comprising the steps of: creating a colourable design upon a surface of the fabric article; colouring the colourable design using a suitable washable ink; and washing the fabric article such that the suitable washable ink is removed from the fabric article but the colourable design is maintained upon the surface of the fabric article.

The present invention is particularly advantageous as it allows one to provide a design upon a fabric article that may be coloured as is desired. That is, a design may be coloured in a first manner on a first occasion, the fabric articles may then be washed to remove the initial colouring and then re-coloured in either the same or a different manner depending upon an individual's preferences at that time. This process may be repeated as many times as is desired. Furthermore, the method of the present invention provides entertainment. In particular, the process of colouring a design according to the method of the present invention is an artistic and entertaining activity.

Substantially any fabric article may be decorated using the method of the present invention. However, the method is particularly suitable for decorating items of clothing such as t-shirts or sweatshirts. Similarly, the fabric of the fabric articles used in the method of the present invention may comprise substantially any known fabric material. However, the method of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with cotton fabric articles.

The washable ink used in the method of the present invention must be a suitable washable ink. That is, the ink must be suitable for colouring the material of the colourable design in a washable manner and after washing the colourable design the ink must be substantially entirely removed from the design. For example, if the colourable design is formed by a heat transfer the ink must be suitable for colouring the material of the heat transfer, preferably without leaching out and staining the material of the fabric article upon which the colourable design is provided.

After colouring with the washable fabric ink, the colourable design may be washed in any conventional manner. Preferably, washing with water alone is sufficient to remove the washable ink from the colourable design. However, an ink that may be removed from a colourable design using a detergent or other commonly available cleaning medium may also be suitable.

The suitable washable ink used in the method of the present invention may be provided in substantially any form. For example, the ink may be in paint form or supplied as in the same manner as any other ink. However, it may be more convenient if the ink is provided in a convenient and easy to use form. For example, it is preferable that pens containing the suitable washable ink are used to colour the colourable design. The pens may be felt-tip pens. The pens may contain ink that can be washed from the colourable design using only water.

As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, a colourable design may be created upon a surface of a fabric article according to the present invention using any suitable conventional method. However, it may be preferred that the design is provided using a transfer. This may be advantageous as it is a simple, consistent and well-known method that allows white or light-coloured regions to be created easily upon black or dark-coloured fabric articles. This is beneficial as white or light-coloured regions are easier to colour using a suitable washable ink. If a transfer is used to decorate a fabric article according to the method of the present invention it may be further preferred that the transfer is a heat transfer. If a colourable design is created using a transfer it will be understood that the transfer should comprise a material that can be easily coloured using a suitable washable ink.

It is preferable that the design created upon the surface of the fabric article comprises a plurality of demarcated colourable regions. This is advantageous as any such design may be simply and easily coloured by colouring in each demarcated region a suitable, possibly different, colour. In this manner, a pleasing coloured design may be created even by relatively artistically unskilled individuals. In particular, the presence of demarcated colourable regions may make it easier for children to colour in a design.

The colourable regions should be a light colour, e.g. white, that allows them to be easily coloured using suitable washable ink. Preferably, any white colourable regions will be demarcated by darker outlines. For example, these dark outlines may be black.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings and description of a specific embodiment of the invention set out below.

Drawings Figure 1 shows a blank t-shirt as may be used in the method of the present invention; Figure 2 shows the t-shirt of Figure 1 after it has had a colourable design applied to its surface according to the method of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows the t-shirt of Figure 1 after the colourable design has been coloured in using a suitable washable ink.

According to an embodiment of the method of the present invention, a user will begin with a plain t-shirt 1, as shown in Figure 1. The t-shirt 1 may be either white or coloured but in the illustrated embodiment the t-shirt is coloured. The user will then apply a heat transfer 2 to the t-shirt using any suitable method. The t-shirt may be sold with the transfer already applied or the heat transfer may be applied by the end-user.

The heat transfer 2 creates a colourable design upon the front surface of the t-shirt, in this case a smiley face, as shown in Figure 2. The colourable design comprises a plurality of white colourable regions 3 that are demarcated by black outlines 4.

The colourable design may then be coloured in using a suitable washable ink that can colour the material of the heat transfer in order to create a coloured design, as shown in Figure 3. The suitable washable ink may be applied by using pens. The ink temporarily colours the material of the heat transfer to create a colourful and unique t-shirt 1 for a wearer. The suitable washable ink is such that it colours the material of the heat transfer without leaching out of the t-shirt 1 onto other fabric items.

After the t-shirt I has been worn, or if the person colouring the colourable design is not happy with the result of their colouring, the t-shirt may be washed in a conventional manner to remove any fabric ink from the design. After washing the t-shirt 1 will return to the state shown in Figure 2. That is, the colourable design will remain upon the surface of the t-shirt and, other than the removal of the fabric ink, will be substantially unaffected by the washing process. After washing, the t-shirt may then be re-coloured using suitable fabric ink, as described above.

In the manner set out above, the method of the present invention may provide a t-shirt that can be coloured in an almost infinite number of ways depending upon the colourer's preference. Furthermore, as the colouring is only temporary and is removed by washing, a wearer can tailor the colours of the design to their own preferences on the day the t-shirt is worn.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of decorating a fabric article comprising the steps of: creating a colourable design upon a surface of the fabric article; colouring the colourable design using suitable washable ink; and washing the fabric article such that the suitable washable ink is removed from the fabric article but the colourable design is maintained upon the surface of the fabric article.
2. A method according to claim I, wherein the fabric article is a t-shirt or a sweatshirt.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fabric article is made of cotton.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the colourable design is coloured using pens containing the suitable washable ink.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the colourable design is created by applying a transfer to the surface of the fabric article.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the transfer is a heat transfer.
7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the colourable design comprises a plurality of demarcated white colourable regions.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the colourable regions are demarcated by darker outlines.amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:CLAIMSI. A method of decorating a fabric article comprising the steps of: creating a colourable design upon the surface of the fabric article by applying a transfer to the surface of the fabric article, the colourable design comprising a plurality of demarcated white or light-coloured colourable regions of the transfer; colouring the colourable design using specific washable ink; and washing the fabric article such that the specific washable ink is removed from the transfer but the colourable design is maintained upon the surface of the fabric article.2. A method according to claim I, wherein the fabric article is a t-shirt; sweatshirt; or any other form of clothing of apparel; 3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fabric article is made of cotton; or any such ingredient used for the manufacture of clothing.4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the colourable design is coloured using specific fabric pens.5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the colourable design is created by applying special transfer to the surface of the fabric article.6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the transfer is a heat transfer. * * .* 7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the colourable design comprises a plurality of demarcated white colourable regions. **** * * * ** *8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the colourable regions are demarcated by darker outlines. * * ** S * S * **