CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/398,593 filed on August 17, 2022. The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a product with flexible panels.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The inventor has been interested in creating a novel product, such as decorative pillows, soft toys and wall art.

[0004] The description provided in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with the background section. The background section may include information that describes one or more aspects of the subject technology.

SUMMARY

[0005] One embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a product. The product includes a frame and a plurality of flexible panels. The plurality of flexible panels are provided with a plurality of slits. Each of the plurality of flexible panels is configured to be attached to the frame through at least one of the plurality of slits.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a method. The method includes obtaining a frame and a plurality of flexible panels. Each of the plurality of flexible panels is provided with a plurality of slits. The method further includes weaving each of the plurality of flexible panels to the frame through at least one of the plurality of slits.

DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a product and method of forming the same.

[0008] Fig. 2 illustrates elements of a product according to one embodiment.

[0009] Fig. 3A illustrates a front view of a product according to one embodiment.

[0010] Fig. 3B illustrates a rear perspective view of a product according to one embodiment.

[0011] Fig. 4A illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a product according to one embodiment.

[0012] Fig. 4B illustrates a perspective view of a product when a flexible panel is being attached to a frame according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figs. 5A-5D illustrate perspective views of a product when a strap is being attached to a base according to one embodiment.

[0014] Fig. 6 illustrates a flowchart showing forming of a product according to one embodiment.

[0015] Figs. 7A-7F and 8A-8F illustrate one embodiment of forming of a product according to one embodiment.

EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present disclosure is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the disclosure are illustrated by reference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

[0017] This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the disclosure as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

[0018] Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a decorative product and method of forming. This disclosure relates generally to decorative pillows, soft toys, wall art and the like, primarily formed with looped surfaces, and to a method of making the same. To create these objects, printed fabric panels (see Fig. 1, panels 1-7), that will each have many horizontal and vertical slits and a partial image, are threaded onto a base frame. The strips on the frame base are threaded through the horizontal slits on panels 1-7. While the panels are described as being formed from fabric, it will be understood that other material is possible as long as the material is bendable and formable into a decorative product as described herein. Further, the panels may be any shape, size, or configuration, and have any number of slits in any orientation.

[0019] These panels, once threaded onto the base frame, are compressed, thereby creating a looped surface. Successive panels are attached to the base frame and then compressed, eventually depicting a full image once all panels are attached as shown in Fig. 1. This technique can be applied to pillows, soft plush toys, wall art and other decorative items.

[0020] The method of forming a decorative looped surface as illustrated and described herein creates a similar effect of a punch-hooked rug or latch-hooked pillow, which old process typically embodies a time-consuming, labor-intensive process of threading yarn through a fabric panel. While such an old process takes multiple hours of tedious work, the method of the present disclosure takes much less time and allows children and adults who are not skilled at weaving to create a woven finished decorative product. The process of the present disclosure is faster than traditional latch-hooking or weaving, allowing the user to finish the project in one sitting and enjoy the end result.

[0021] The decorative product and method of forming provides a similar effect of multicolored loops on a surface in a fraction of the time. The decorative product described herein comprises a woven craft product having a product support frame or a base frame, a number of flexible panels (Fig. 1, panels 1-7 for example) with slits (preferably vertical and horizontal slits as illustrated herein) configured to be woven onto the product support, each flexible panel being comprised of a portion of an image, and the woven decorative product being formed by the successive application of flexible panels onto the product support or base frame, the flexible panels being looped to compress the panels relative to the product support or base frame, and the product image ultimately being completed by the successive combination of several panels woven onto the frame and compressed to form the whole image and fit the final frame size as shown in Fig. 1.

[0022] While Fig. 1 illustrates seven (7) panels, it will be appreciated and understood that any number of panels may be used so long as the finished product creates the desired end result and effect. Further, while each panel is depicted in Fig. 1 with a portion of a smiley face design, other designs or portions of designs may be used. Having each panel depict only a portion of a design creates anticipation and excitement for the user as the completed design starts to appear as the panels are successively applied to the base frame.

[0023] The second embodiment is described with reference to Figs. 2-8F. Fig. 2 illustrates elements of a product according to one embodiment. Fig. 3A illustrates a front view of a product according to one embodiment.

[0024] The product 100 of this embodiment explained with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 A may operate essentially the same as the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Descriptions for elements in the first embedment can be applicable to same or similar elements in the second embodiment, and descriptions of the elements in the second embodiment may be appropriately omitted. In addition, features of the first embodiment and the second embodiment may be combined. The product 100 may be a non-reveal embodiment of an image, but may be an embodiment of a reveal of an image, such as the product of Fig. 1. With reference to Figs. 2 and 3 A, the product 100 may include a frame 110 and a plurality of flexible panels 140. In some embodiment, the frame 110 may include a base 111 and a plurality of straps 113. In the illustrated embodiment, the product 100 may be a pillow, and as shown in Fig. 3B, the base 111 may include a pillow pocket 111c. A pillow insert 160 may be configured to be placed in the pillow pocket 111c. In other embodiments, the product 110 may be any product other than a pillow.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, each of the plurality of flexible panels 140 may be provided with a plurality of slits 140a. The flexible panels 140 may have the same or different shapes. As shown in Fig. 4A, and 4B, each of the plurality of flexible panels 140 may be configured to be attached to the frame 110 through at least one of the plurality of slits 140a. In the illustrated example, each of the plurality of flexible panels 140 may be configured to be attached to the plurality of straps 113 through at least one of the plurality of slits 140a. As shown in Figs. 3A, 4A, and 4B, when the plurality of flexible panels 140 are attached to the frame 110, the plurality of flexible panels 140 may be successively applied to the frame 110. When the plurality of flexible panels 140 are attached to the frame 110, the plurality of flexible panels 140 may be looped to compress the plurality of flexible panels 140 relative to the frame 110.

[0026] With reference to Figs. 2 and 5A, in some embodiments, the base 111 may include a plurality of slots I l la. Each of the plurality of the straps 113 may be configured to pass through one of the plurality of slots I l la. As such, the plurality of straps 113 may be attached to the base 111. Thus, the plurality of flexible panels 140, which are attached to the straps 113, may be firmly attached to the base 111.

[0027] With reference to Figs. 2 and 5A-5D, at least one of the plurality of straps 113 may include a slit 113a and an engagement part 113c configured to engage with the slit 113a of the straps 113. Once the user has finished weaving on the last flexible panel 140, the user can fasten the straps 113 onto the last slot I l la. The user may pull the engagement part 113c at the end of the strap 113, and may insert the engagement part 113c through the slit 113a. This may lock the straps 113 to the base 111 (e.g., pillowcase). The bottom loops will cover this area.

[0028] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 A, the product 100 may further include at least one decorative part 190, such as patches and felt shapes.

[0029] Fig. 6 illustrates a flowchart that shows forming of a product according to one embodiment. [0030] In some embodiments, in 601 of Fig. 6, the user may obtain the frame 110 and the plurality of flexible panels 140. Then, in 603, the user may weave each of the plurality of flexible panels 140 to the frame 110 through at least one of the plurality of slits 140a. As such the product 100 may be formed.

[0031] Figs. 7A-7F and 8A-8F illustrate one embodiment of forming of a product according to one embodiment. With reference to these figures, one example of a detailed explanation of forming of the product is described below, but other methods of forming of the product may be possible.

[0032] With reference to Fig. 7A, the user may weave on an item (for example, shown as a cherry shape), and may fold in half and weave onto the two center straps. The user may push it to rest on top of the product (e.g., pillow). Then, with reference to Fig. 7B, the user may start with the skinny side of the flexible panel (e.g., fleece panel), and insert a plurality of center straps (e.g., two center straps) into the top slit and slide the fleece up.

[0033] Then, with reference to Fig. 7C, the user may feed the four center straps through the next slits. The user may slide the fleece all the way up the straps. Then, with reference to Fig. 7D, the user may feed the four center straps through the next set of slits. Then, with reference to Fig. 7E, the user may feed the six straps through the next slits. The user may scrunch the loops up each time. Then, with reference to Fig. 7F, the user may finish threading through the last slits in the panel.

[0034] Then, with reference to Fig. 8A, the user may scrunch the fleece and fluff up the loops. Then, with reference to Fig. 8B, the user may thread the straps through the slots at the top of the pillowcase. This tacks down the panel. Then, with reference to Fig. 8C, the user has threaded all six straps through the slots.

[0035] Then, with reference to Fig. 8D, the user may begin lacing on the second panel, by lacing upside down as shown. Then, with reference to Fig. 8E, once the user has laced the straps through the entire panel, the user may hold the straps taught and scrunch the fleece up. Then, with reference to Fig. 8F, when the user has finished, the user may thread the straps through the next line of slots on the base (e.g., pillowcase).

[0036] While the present disclosure has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the disclosure in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the disclosure, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.