Apparatus for fading textiles, and method of use

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for stone washing a textile material. The stone washing apparatus comprises artificial abrasive stones made from carbon silicon that can be used extensively before requiring disposal. The artificial abrasive stones include means for connecting the abrasive stone to the inner surface of a wash chamber. Also provided is methods of using the abrasive stones.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing a textile material with a stonewashed effect, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching to an inside surface of a chamber a plurality of artificial abrasive stones;    (b) placing a textile material into the chamber;    (c) moving the chamber so that the artificial abrasive stones contact the textile material so as to wear and fade the textile material; and    (d) removing the textile material from the chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching artificial abrasive stones fabricated from a material comprising carbon silicon.  
     
     
         3 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding to the inside of the chamber a quantity of unattached artificial abrasive stones.  
     
     
         4 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of attaching artificial abrasive stones includes providing artificial abrasive stones adapted to attach to an inside surface of an existing chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The method claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the step of providing artificial abrasive stones further includes providing the artificial abrasive stones with steel, plastic, or rubber connectors operable to fasten the artificial abrasive stones to the inner surface of the chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , further including the step of covering at least a portion of the inside surface of the chamber with an abrasive material.  
     
     
         7 . The method claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the step of covering at least a portion of the inside surface of the chamber with an abrasive material includes covering at least a portion of the inside surface of the chamber with sandpaper or grind stone.  
     
     
         8 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing artificial abrasive stones includes providing artificial abrasive stones having different shapes.  
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a textile material with a stonewashed effect, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching to an inside surface of a chamber a plurality of artificial abrasive stones made from a material comprising carbon silicon and clay, the abrasive stones having steel, plastic, or rubber connectors adapted to releasably attach the stone to the inside surface of the chamber;    (b) adding to the chamber a textile material and moving the chamber so that the artificial abrasive stones contact the textile material; and    (c) removing the textile material from the chamber.    
     
     
         10 . The method claimed in  claim 9 , further including the step of adding to the chamber a quantity of the artificial abrasive stones.  
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a textile material with a stonewashed effect, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching to an inside surface of a chamber a plurality of artificial abrasive stones made from a material comprising carbon silicon;    (b) adding to the chamber a quantity of the artificial abrasive stones;    (c) adding to the chamber a quantity of rubber balls;    (d) moving the chamber so that the artificial abrasive stones and rubber balls contact the textile material; and    (c) removing the textile material from the chamber.    
     
     
         12 . The method claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of adding to the chamber a quantity of grind stone.  
     
     
         13 . The method claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the step of adding artificial abrasive stones to the chamber comprises adding artificial abrasive stones that are sized such that each stone has a volume less than each of the attached artificial abrasive stones.  
     
     
         14 . The method claimed in  claim 10 , further including the step of adding a quantity of enzyme to the chamber.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for providing a textile material with a stonewashed effect comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of artificial abrasive stones, each abrasive stone having a connector; and    (b) a chamber adapted to hold textile material, the chamber having an inner surface with a plurality of openings therethrough, the inner surface openings adapted to receive the abrasive stone connector, wherein the abrasive stones can be attached and easily removed from the chamber.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the artificial abrasive stones are porous.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the stone connector is a nut and bolt, plastic connector or rubber connector.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the nut and bolt is stainless steel.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the chamber is provided with a screw having a threaded end extending from the inner surface, and the stone is provided with a threaded portion, wherein the stone is attached by screwing the stone onto the chamber screw.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the artificial abrasive stone is fabricated from materials comprising carbon silicon.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus claimed in  claim 20 , further including materials comprising clay, resin and foaming agents.  
     
     
         22 . A method for providing a textile material with a stonewashed effect, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a chamber having a plurality of artificial abrasive stones attached to the chamber inner surface, the chamber being adapted to moveably treat textile materials;    (b) placing a textile material into the chamber;    (c) moving the chamber so that the artificial abrasive stones contact the textile material so as to wear and fade the textile material; and    (c) removing the textile material from the chamber.    
     
     
         23 . The method claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the step of providing a chamber includes providing a chamber having artificial abrasive stones attached to the inner surface fabricated from a material comprising carbon silicon.  
     
     
         24 . A method for providing a textile material with a stonewashed effect, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing a textile material into a chamber, the chamber having a plurality of artificial abrasive stones attached to the chamber inner surface, the chamber being adapted to moveably treat textile materials;    (b) moving the chamber so that the artificial abrasive stones contact the textile material so as to wear and fade the textile material; and    (c) removing the textile material from the chamber.    
     
     
         25 . The method claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the step of placing textiles into a chamber having attached abrasive stones, the abrasive stones are sized such that the uppermost portion of the stones upper surface is about 0.75 inches to about 1.25 inches from the chamber inner surface.  
     
     
         26 . The method claimed in  claim 5 , further including the step of recycling the artificial abrasive stone attached to the inside surface of the chamber, the step comprising removing the artificial abrasive stone from the chamber inside surface, separating the stone from the connector, and adding the artificial abrasive stone back to the chamber for use as an unattached artificial abrasive stone.  
     
     
         27 . The method claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the step of adding a quantity of unattached artificial abrasive stones to the chamber comprises adding artificial abrasive stones fabricated from a material comprising carbon silicon.