GB2141146A

GB2141146A - Improvements in hand woven floor and wall coverings

Info

Publication number: GB2141146A
Application number: GB08310723A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Flitterman
Original assignee: SPECTRUM CARPETS INTERNATIONAL
Current assignee: SPECTRUM CARPETS INTERNATIONAL
Priority date: 1983-04-20
Filing date: 1983-04-20
Publication date: 1984-12-12
Also published as: GB8310723D0

Abstract

A hand woven floor or wall covering has pile pieces 11 woven ground the warp yarn 13 wherein the pile pieces 11 are specially shaped with the result that speed of execution is increased or the pieces are more firmly fitted into the backing. The pieces either have a narrower central portion between two wider end portions, or have the ends divided so that one piece forms more than two pile pieces. Optionally the pieces are shaped to enhance a design concept, for example if the ends of the piece are in the shape of flowers or leaves a garden effect could be created. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in hand woven floor and wall coverings The present invention relates to hand woven wall and floor coverings.

The problems with hand weaving are twofold. Each piece to be woven has to be individually picked up by the ioom operator and woven into position. Where the covering is to have a pile of thin pieces this can be a fiddly job. Also where the pile is of shorter, wider pieces there is a possibility that the individual pieces will become dislodged and come loose.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a woven floor OF wall covering in which the individual pile pieces are shaped to be narrower in the central area between two wider end areas.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a woven floor or wall covering in which individual pile pieces each comprise a longitudinal strip both ends of which are divided to form a plurality of thinner strips. When the pieces are woven into the backing of the covering, the ends form the pile and the piece is held into the covering at the central area.

The individual pile pieces may be for example the thickness of several equivalent pieces. Where the thickness is equivalent to three former pieces it will be possible to make the pile of six lengths with one operation. This both reduces labour and can form a thicker pile if the backing is as closely woven as it would otherwise have been. If on the other hand, the use of wider pieces means that the backing can be looser so that fewer warps and wefts are required for the same area, the labour time is substantially reduced.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing pieces for use in hand weaving comprising stamping each piece out of a larger piece of material.

The material can be of any suitable kind, and may be woven or knitted material, suede or leather, for example.

The use of shaped pieces can be extended to the formation of patterned covering, for example the shaped pieces may be in the form of flowers and leaves to form a garden scenery.

The invention further includes pieces of material which have been stamped out for weaving in accordance with the method set out above.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates the back of one type of hand woven covering in which the invention might be embodied, Figure 2 shows how individual pieces of fabric are held in the backing, and Figures 3a to c illustrate three different shapes of fabric pieces which can be used.

The method of hand weaving illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 forms the subject of our copending, earlier application No 8108972. In that applicatuon the specification describes how individual pieces 11 of woven or knitted fabric, suede or leather are woven across the warp yarn 1 3 during weaving, the pieces being in rows in staggered relationship to one another between rows 1 2 of weft yarn. It is now proposed that the individual pile pieces be shaped, rather than straight longitudinal pieces of material and Figs. 3a to c illustrate three example shapes into which the material might be cut.

Fig. 3a illustrates a longitudinal piece of fabric, suede or leather which has been stamped out of a larger piece of the fabric so that each of the two ends is divided into three while the central area maintains the full width to hold the narrower end pieces together. This provides an equivalent of three separate pile pieces held together in the central area.

Fig. 3b shows a pile piece which is in the shape of an egg timer with a narrow central area tapering outwardly towards each wider end.

Fig. 3cshows a pile piece which has a narrow central area at each end of which there is a flower shaped head. It will be appreciated that other suitable shapes could be chosen, although it is preferable that the shape is wider than the central area so that it can be better held in the backing.

What ever shape is chosen the pieces will be formed by stamping them out of a larger piece of material. Thus many shapes of the most intricate nature can be easily prepared for weaving.

1. A hand woven wall or floor covering comprising individual pieces of material hand knotted on warp and weft yarns wherein the pieces of material are elongate with a central portion between the two end portions, the central portion being narrower than the end portions.

2. A floor or wall covering according to claim 1 wherein there is a gradual change of width between an end portion and the central portion.

3. A floor or wall covering according to claim 2 wherein the piece of material tapers outwardly from the central portion to each of the outer ends.

4. A floor or wall covering according to any of the preceding claims wherein the end portions of at least some of the pieces are shaped to represent objects.

5. A floor or wall covering according to claim 4 wherein the end portions are shaped

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in hand woven floor and wall coverings The present invention relates to hand woven wall and floor coverings. The problems with hand weaving are twofold. Each piece to be woven has to be individually picked up by the ioom operator and woven into position. Where the covering is to have a pile of thin pieces this can be a fiddly job. Also where the pile is of shorter, wider pieces there is a possibility that the individual pieces will become dislodged and come loose. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a woven floor OF wall covering in which the individual pile pieces are shaped to be narrower in the central area between two wider end areas. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a woven floor or wall covering in which individual pile pieces each comprise a longitudinal strip both ends of which are divided to form a plurality of thinner strips. When the pieces are woven into the backing of the covering, the ends form the pile and the piece is held into the covering at the central area. The individual pile pieces may be for example the thickness of several equivalent pieces. Where the thickness is equivalent to three former pieces it will be possible to make the pile of six lengths with one operation. This both reduces labour and can form a thicker pile if the backing is as closely woven as it would otherwise have been. If on the other hand, the use of wider pieces means that the backing can be looser so that fewer warps and wefts are required for the same area, the labour time is substantially reduced. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing pieces for use in hand weaving comprising stamping each piece out of a larger piece of material. The material can be of any suitable kind, and may be woven or knitted material, suede or leather, for example. The use of shaped pieces can be extended to the formation of patterned covering, for example the shaped pieces may be in the form of flowers and leaves to form a garden scenery. The invention further includes pieces of material which have been stamped out for weaving in accordance with the method set out above. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates the back of one type of hand woven covering in which the invention might be embodied, Figure 2 shows how individual pieces of fabric are held in the backing, and Figures 3a to c illustrate three different shapes of fabric pieces which can be used. The method of hand weaving illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 forms the subject of our copending, earlier application No 8108972. In that applicatuon the specification describes how individual pieces 11 of woven or knitted fabric, suede or leather are woven across the warp yarn 1 3 during weaving, the pieces being in rows in staggered relationship to one another between rows 1 2 of weft yarn. It is now proposed that the individual pile pieces be shaped, rather than straight longitudinal pieces of material and Figs. 3a to c illustrate three example shapes into which the material might be cut. Fig. 3a illustrates a longitudinal piece of fabric, suede or leather which has been stamped out of a larger piece of the fabric so that each of the two ends is divided into three while the central area maintains the full width to hold the narrower end pieces together. This provides an equivalent of three separate pile pieces held together in the central area. Fig. 3b shows a pile piece which is in the shape of an egg timer with a narrow central area tapering outwardly towards each wider end. Fig. 3cshows a pile piece which has a narrow central area at each end of which there is a flower shaped head. It will be appreciated that other suitable shapes could be chosen, although it is preferable that the shape is wider than the central area so that it can be better held in the backing. What ever shape is chosen the pieces will be formed by stamping them out of a larger piece of material. Thus many shapes of the most intricate nature can be easily prepared for weaving. CLAIMS

5. A floor or wall covering according to claim 4 wherein the end portions are shaped to represent objects that might be found in a garden.

6. A hand woven floor or wall vering comprising individual pieces of material hand knotted on warp and weft yarns wherein the pieces of material each comprise a longitudinal strip both ends of which are divided to form a plurality of inner strip portions.

7. A floor or wall covering according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pieces are made of knitted or woven material.

8. A floor or wall covering according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the pieces are of suede or leather material.

9. A floor or wall covering according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pieces have been stamped out of a larger piece of material.

10. A floor or wall covering substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.