Repositionable adhesive mounted fabric assembly and decoration process

Abstract

The invention concerns process embodiments and associated apparatus for greatly facilitating assembly of fabric or sheet-like materials into a finished item. The basis for the process is the mounting of the fabric or sheet-like material onto a mounting means with a repositionable adhesive. Various marks, cuts and perforations can be produced onto the mounting means which will serve as guides to multiple operations during the assembly process. Perforations or score marks can serve as guides to sew a seam, and then the mounting means torn away around the seam. Other marks can serve as guides for folding or trimming for example. The result is a process to greatly simplify and speed up assembly. Another embodiment facilitates precision decoration of fabric or sheet-like materials, through the use of strategically placed perforations and/or slits. The perforation pattern will guide decoration operations such as embroidery, and the adhered pattern can then be removed by tearing along the perforations.

1 . A process for assembly or decoration of fabrics or other sheet-like materials, composed of the following: 
 a. Usage of a sheet-like mounting means, such as a paper sheet, with repositionable adhesive applied to one side of the mounting means.    b. Perforation or scoring of the mounting means, such as to serve as a guide for sewing or other type of assembly operation, or to serve as a guide in applying decorations.    c. Mounting of a fabric panel or other sheet-like material to the mounting means.    
   
   
       2 . A process as in  claim 1  which involves removal of sections of the mounting means after an assembly or decoration operation, such as sewing, by tearing along the perforations or score marks at the seams or boundaries created during assembly or decoration.  
   
   
       3 . A process as in  claim 1  which utilizes a means to register and/or secure together mating mounted sub-assemblies.  
   
   
       4 . A process as in  claim 1  which utilizes cuts or slits in the mounting means, which are strategically placed, such as to facilitate lifting and removing sections of the mounting means after assembly or decoration operations.  
   
   
       5 . A process as in  claim 1  which utilizes computer-aided production of perforation or scoring patterns, such as the printing of lines on the mounting means to guide said operations.  
   
   
       6 . A process as in  claim 1  which employs means, such as masking, to ensure adhesive is not applied to the mounting means in the vicinity of perforation or scoring lines, such as to facilitate later tearing along said lines and removal of sections of the mounting means.  
   
   
       7 . A process as in  claim 1  which employs wider and more open perforations, such as to serve as a mask for fusing of fusible materials.  
   
   
       8 . A process as in  claim 1 , whereby the mounted fabric or sheet-like material is subjected to a printing process, provided there is the express purpose of assembling or decorating the object of the printing process using the process of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       9 . A process as in  claim 1  which employs lines, perforations, scores, or cuts as guides for folding, trimming, formation of multiple or complex seams, and presentation or positioning with respect to finishing tooling.  
   
   
       10 . A process for assembly or decoration of fabrics or other sheet-like materials, composed of the following: 
 a. Usage of a sheet-like mounting means, such as a paper sheet, with repositionable adhesive applied to one side of the mounting means.    b. Mounting of a fabric panel or other sheet-like material to the mounting means with the express purpose of perforating or scoring the mounting means before or during operations related to assembly or decoration of the fabric or sheet-like material.    
   
   
       11 . A process as in  claim 10  which utilizes a tool or tools for cutting perforations of controlled depth into the mounting means, or for scoring the mounting means, and the tool or tools so employed.  
   
   
       12 . A process as in  claim 10  which utilizes a tool or tools for cutting perforations of controlled depth into the mounting means, or for scoring the mounting means. Said tool or tools being physically integrated with the means for joining the fabric or sheet-like materials, such as a sewing machine head. Also claimed is the integrated precision perforating or scoring and joining machine.  
   
   
       13 . A process as in  claim 10  which involves removal of sections of the mounting means after an assembly or decoration operation, such as sewing, by tearing along the perforations or scored lines at the seams or boundaries created during assembly or decoration.  
   
   
       14 . A process as in  claim 10  which utilizes a means to register and/or secure together mating mounted sub-assemblies.  
   
   
       15 . A process as in  claim 10  which employs cuts or slits in the mounting means of controlled depth, which are strategically placed, such as to facilitate lifting and removing sections of the mounting means after assembly or decoration operations, along with physical tooling to accomplish placing of said cuts or slits.  
   
   
       16 . A process as in  claim 10  which utilizes computer-aided means to facilitate the perforation or scoring operations, such as printing of lines on the mounting means to serve as guides for perforation, scoring and cutting operations.  
   
   
       17 . A process as in  claim 10  which employs means, such as masking, to ensure adhesive is not applied to the mounting means in areas where perforations, scores, or cuts will be made, such as to facilitate later tearing along perforations or scoring lines and removal of sections of the mounting means.  
   
   
       18 . A process as in  claim 10  which employs wider and more open perforations, such as to serve as a mask for fusing of fusible materials.  
   
   
       19 . A process as in  claim 10 , whereby the mounted fabric or sheet-like material is subjected to a printing process, provided there is the express purpose of assembling or decorating the object of the printing process using the process of  claim 10 .  
   
   
       20 . A process as in  claim 10  which employs lines, perforations, scores, or cuts as guides for folding, trimming, formation of multiple or complex seams, and presentation or positioning with respect to finishing tooling.