WO2000007842A1 - Embellishing articles - Google Patents

Embellishing articles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000007842A1
WO2000007842A1 PCT/GB1999/002515 GB9902515W WO0007842A1 WO 2000007842 A1 WO2000007842 A1 WO 2000007842A1 GB 9902515 W GB9902515 W GB 9902515W WO 0007842 A1 WO0007842 A1 WO 0007842A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sheet
pile
fibrous layer
article
bonded
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1999/002515
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul Kimsey
Original Assignee
Paul Kimsey
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9817047.5A external-priority patent/GB9817047D0/en
Application filed by Paul Kimsey filed Critical Paul Kimsey
Priority to AU51808/99A priority Critical patent/AU5180899A/en
Priority to GB0006469A priority patent/GB2344758B/en
Publication of WO2000007842A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000007842A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/47—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/472—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces said single elements being substantially flat
    • B29C66/4724—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces said single elements being substantially flat said single elements being appliques, e.g. in the form of a text or drawing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/04—Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/20—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines
    • B29C66/24—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being closed or non-straight
    • B29C66/242—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being closed or non-straight said joint lines being closed, i.e. forming closed contours
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/729—Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N3/00—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for
    • B60N3/04—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of floor mats or carpets
    • B60N3/048—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of floor mats or carpets characterised by their structure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2795/00—Printing on articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
    • B29C65/743—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using the same tool for both joining and severing, said tool being monobloc or formed by several parts mounted together and forming a monobloc
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/30—Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof
    • B29L2031/3005—Body finishings
    • B29L2031/3017—Floor coverings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/732—Floor coverings
    • B29L2031/7324—Mats

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the embellishment of articles, more particularly vehicle mats and seat belt covers.
  • the present invention provides an article comprising:
  • thermoplastics material - a flexible backing layer carrying a pile formed of thermoplastics material, and - a sheet of thermoplastics material superimposed on an area of the pile, said sheet being bonded to the pile by high frequency welding applied to selected areas of said sheet which are recessed into the pile during the welding process.
  • the invention further provides a method of embellishing an article having a flexible backing layer carrying a pile formed of thermoplastics material, comprising:
  • the invention thus allows high quality decorative designs to be applied which can incorporate intricate embossed shapes and profiles without prominent areas of attachment.
  • thermoplastics material as used herein is intended to embrace any plastics material which is softened by heat such that it can be welded using high frequency heating.
  • Thermoplastics materials which are suitable for forming a pile include polyamide and polypropylene.
  • polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been found to give consistently outstanding results in respect of welding and shaping properties, wear-resistance and general quality of finish, although other thermoplastics sheet materials may be used in some applications.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of a car mat in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a transverse section ll-ll taken through the mat of Fig. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a general view of a harness pad in accordance with the invention.
  • a small vehicle mat 1 is shown by way of example.
  • the mat may be of any peripheral profile and is typically edged with a fabric tape 2 which is sown or otherwise applied to the mat in known manner.
  • the mat has a flexible backing layer 3 of rubberised hessian or the like, which carries a pile 4 of a known thermoplastics material such as polyamide or polypropylene.
  • the pile may typically be up to 5mm thick and the fibres making up the pile may be cut-off or formed into loops.
  • Mats having a deeper pile are generally of polyamide whereas polypropylene is used in shorter pile mats, both materials being waterproof and very hard-wearing.
  • the mat is embellished by applying a decorative design to a discreet area of the mat by means of PVC sheet 5.
  • the sheet is relatively thin and flexible, e.g. about 0.3mm thick.
  • a design may be printed on the upper surface of the sheet by a conventional printing technique, leaving a margin around the design, or the sheet may be self-coloured or have a surface texture to reflect light with different colours or patterns.
  • the sheet is bonded to the mat using a brass high frequency welding die which is shaped to correspond to the desired outline of the design. In the case of a printed design the die is placed in careful registration with the design. The die incorporates a cutting edge which, on contact with the sheet, removes marginal portions of the sheet around the design.
  • the die is also formed such as to bond the sheet to the backing layer through the pile using high frequency energy which softens the area of the sheet in the high current regions and melts the part of the pile in contact with the said area so that the sheet and backing layer become welded together.
  • the sheet is bonded to the mat around the peripheral margin of the design as indicated by the shaded area 7 in Fig. 1 , although the sheet could additionally be bonded in other areas, particularly in the case of designs which cover a large area.
  • a plain rounded rectangle is shown by way of illustration it will be appreciated that the shape could be of any desired size and profile which covers less the total upper area of the mat.
  • a larger rectangular sheet could be applied to form a heel pad.
  • a particular advantage of the present invention is that it allows very intricate shapes to be produced, so that small and very intricate shapes can be applied in addition to large and relatively plain heel pads. Individual letters could be formed from a single sheet for example.
  • the non-bonded areas of the PVC sheet may also be contoured to take on an embossed shape. Since the PVC sheet material is relatively thin very intricate embossed profiles can be produced. For example, the outline of individual letters can be raised above the non- bonded areas to make them stand out still further, e.g. the letters of the word "William ⁇ ' shown in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 shows a pad 10 which is also embellished by application of a design 11.
  • the pad may be used to prevent abrasion from a seat belt or the strap of a shoulder bag for example.
  • the pad comprises a front area 12 with a pair of opposed rearward ly-folded flaps 13 and 14 which can be secured around the belt by means of a strip of hook material 15 for example.
  • the pad again comprises a flexible backing layer which carries a short pile (e.g. about 0.5mm thick) of a known thermoplastics material such as polypropylene which may be formed in loops for engagement by the hook material 15.
  • the pad is embellished by a decorative design applied using a piece of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet 16.
  • the sheet is thin and flexible, e.g. about 0.3mm thick and is bonded by high frequency welding around the periphery of the sheet as described above. Again, marginal portions of the sheet may be removed and the sheet may be embossed during the welding process.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

An article, e.g. a mat or belt pad, includes a flexible backing layer (3) having a pile (4) of thermoplastics material. A design is applied to the mat using a thin and flexible thermoplastics sheet (5) which is secured to the mat by high frequency welding in selected areas (7) which become recessed into the pile. A brass welding die is used which removes a peripheral area of the sheet (5), and the die may be profiled to form embossed regions (8) on non-bonded areas of the sheet. The non-bonded areas are supported by the pile (4) so that very intricate embossed shapes and profiles can be achieved.

Description

EMBELLISHING ARTICLES
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the embellishment of articles, more particularly vehicle mats and seat belt covers.
BACKGROUND
In the manufacture of car mats for example, it is known to embellish the mats by applying designs printed on fibrous felt or flock material which is secured by stitching. However, the quality of printing which can be obtained using such materials is comparatively poor, and the nature of the material does not allow the formation of intricate embossed profiles. The use of stitching can also detract from the design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an article comprising:
- a flexible backing layer carrying a pile formed of thermoplastics material, and - a sheet of thermoplastics material superimposed on an area of the pile, said sheet being bonded to the pile by high frequency welding applied to selected areas of said sheet which are recessed into the pile during the welding process.
The invention further provides a method of embellishing an article having a flexible backing layer carrying a pile formed of thermoplastics material, comprising:
- superimposing a sheet of thermoplastics material on an area of the pile; and
- bonding selected areas of the sheet to the pile by high frequency welding such that the bonded areas become recessed into the pile.
The invention thus allows high quality decorative designs to be applied which can incorporate intricate embossed shapes and profiles without prominent areas of attachment.
For the avoidance of doubt the term "thermoplastics material" as used herein is intended to embrace any plastics material which is softened by heat such that it can be welded using high frequency heating. Thermoplastics materials which are suitable for forming a pile include polyamide and polypropylene. In the case of the superimposed sheet material polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been found to give consistently outstanding results in respect of welding and shaping properties, wear-resistance and general quality of finish, although other thermoplastics sheet materials may be used in some applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a car mat in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a transverse section ll-ll taken through the mat of Fig. 1 ; and
Figure 3 is a general view of a harness pad in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring firstly to Fig. 1 , a small vehicle mat 1 is shown by way of example. The mat may be of any peripheral profile and is typically edged with a fabric tape 2 which is sown or otherwise applied to the mat in known manner. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the mat has a flexible backing layer 3 of rubberised hessian or the like, which carries a pile 4 of a known thermoplastics material such as polyamide or polypropylene. By way of example, the pile may typically be up to 5mm thick and the fibres making up the pile may be cut-off or formed into loops. Mats having a deeper pile are generally of polyamide whereas polypropylene is used in shorter pile mats, both materials being waterproof and very hard-wearing. The mat is embellished by applying a decorative design to a discreet area of the mat by means of PVC sheet 5. The sheet is relatively thin and flexible, e.g. about 0.3mm thick. A design may be printed on the upper surface of the sheet by a conventional printing technique, leaving a margin around the design, or the sheet may be self-coloured or have a surface texture to reflect light with different colours or patterns. The sheet is bonded to the mat using a brass high frequency welding die which is shaped to correspond to the desired outline of the design. In the case of a printed design the die is placed in careful registration with the design. The die incorporates a cutting edge which, on contact with the sheet, removes marginal portions of the sheet around the design.
In addition to cutting the sheet to the shape of the design, the die is also formed such as to bond the sheet to the backing layer through the pile using high frequency energy which softens the area of the sheet in the high current regions and melts the part of the pile in contact with the said area so that the sheet and backing layer become welded together. In the case of small designs the sheet is bonded to the mat around the peripheral margin of the design as indicated by the shaded area 7 in Fig. 1 , although the sheet could additionally be bonded in other areas, particularly in the case of designs which cover a large area.
Although a plain rounded rectangle is shown by way of illustration it will be appreciated that the shape could be of any desired size and profile which covers less the total upper area of the mat. A larger rectangular sheet could be applied to form a heel pad. A particular advantage of the present invention is that it allows very intricate shapes to be produced, so that small and very intricate shapes can be applied in addition to large and relatively plain heel pads. Individual letters could be formed from a single sheet for example.
In the case of a pile formed of a high melting point plastic such as polypropylene it may be necessary to interpose a thin thermoplastic bonding film between the PVC sheet and the pile to ensure that a good bond is achieved. One such material is available under the trade name "Bonded. This adds little to the cost, and since the additional bonding layer is very thin compared with the thickness of the PVC sheet all the advantages of the invention will still be obtained.
During the welding process the non-bonded areas of the PVC sheet may also be contoured to take on an embossed shape. Since the PVC sheet material is relatively thin very intricate embossed profiles can be produced. For example, the outline of individual letters can be raised above the non- bonded areas to make them stand out still further, e.g. the letters of the word "Williamέ' shown in Fig. 1.
It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the embedding of the welded areas 7 into the pile results in compression of the pile behind the non-bonded areas so that the sheet is firmly supported by the pile over the entire non-bonded area, even including any narrow raised areas such as that indicated at 8 in Fig. 2. As a result, the embossed design is strong enough to resist compression during normal use yet is still sufficiently flexible not to significantly stiffen the mat.
Fig. 3 shows a pad 10 which is also embellished by application of a design 11. The pad may be used to prevent abrasion from a seat belt or the strap of a shoulder bag for example. The pad comprises a front area 12 with a pair of opposed rearward ly-folded flaps 13 and 14 which can be secured around the belt by means of a strip of hook material 15 for example. The pad again comprises a flexible backing layer which carries a short pile (e.g. about 0.5mm thick) of a known thermoplastics material such as polypropylene which may be formed in loops for engagement by the hook material 15. The pad is embellished by a decorative design applied using a piece of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet 16. The sheet is thin and flexible, e.g. about 0.3mm thick and is bonded by high frequency welding around the periphery of the sheet as described above. Again, marginal portions of the sheet may be removed and the sheet may be embossed during the welding process.
Articles incorporating an embellishment as set forth above are inexpensive to manufacture yet are hard-wearing and flexible. Clearly the effects which can be produced must be seen to be fully appreciated, but they represent a vast improvement on the range of embellishments which have hitherto been achieved.
It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An article comprising:
- a flexible backing layer (3) carrying a pile (4) formed of thermoplastics material, and
- a sheet (5) of thermoplastics material superimposed on an area of the pile, said sheet being bonded to the pile by high frequency welding applied to selected areas (7) of said sheet which are recessed into the pile during the welding process.
2. An article according to Claim 1 , in which the welded areas extend continuously around the entire periphery of the sheet.
3. An article according to Claim 1 , in which a non-boned area of the sheet has an embossed profile.
4. An article according to Claim 1 , in which the pile substantially fills the gap between the backing layer and a non-bonded area of the sheet to provide support for the non-bonded area.
5. An article according to Claim 1 , in which the plastics sheet is formed of polyvinyl chloride.
6. An article according to Claim 1 , in which a thermoplastics bonding film is interposed between the sheet and the pile.
7. An article according to Claim 1 , in which the article comprises a car mat.
8. An article according to Claim 1 , which is adapted to be folded around a belt and is provided with means (15) for securing opposite edges thereof together.
9. A method of embellishing an article having a flexible backing layer (3) carrying a pile (4) formed of thermoplastics material, comprising:
- superimposing a sheet (5) of thermoplastics material on an area of the pile; and
- bonding selected areas (7) of the sheet to the pile by high frequency welding such that the bonded areas become recessed into the pile.
10. A method according to Claim 9, in which the welded areas extend continuously around the entire periphery of the sheet.
11. A method according to Claim 9, in which said high frequency welding is carried out using a die.
12. A method according to Claim 11 , in which the die removes a peripheral portion of the sheet.
13. A method according to Claim 11 , in which the die is shaped to form an embossed profile on a non-bonded area of the sheet.
14. A method according to Claim 9, in which the pile substantially fills the gap between the backing layer and a non-bonded area of the sheet to provide support for the non-bonded area.
15. A method according to Claim 9, in which the plastics sheet is formed of polyvinyl chloride.
16. A method according to Claim 9, in which a thermoplastics bonding film is interposed between the sheet and the pile.
17. A method according to Claim 9, in which the article comprises a car mat.
18. A method according to Claim 9, which is adapted to be folded around a belt and is provided with means for securing opposite edges thereof together.
AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 5 January 2000 (05.01.00); original claims 1-18 replaced by new amended claims 1-10 (3 pages)]
1. A method of embellishing an article having a flexible backing layer (3) carrying a fibrous layer (4) formed of thermoplastics material, which includes:
- superimposing a sheet (5) of polyvinyl chloride on an area of the fibrous layer; and
- bonding selected areas (7) of the sheet to the fibrous layer by high frequency welding such that the bonded areas become recessed into the fibrous layer, characterised in that i) a decorative design is printed onto the polyvinyl chloride sheet before being bonded to the fibrous layer; ii) the polyvinyl chloride sheet is placed on the fibrous layer with the printed design facing away from the fibrous layer; iii) the high frequency welding is performed using a die which is shaped and profiled to correspond with the printed design and to remove a peripheral portion of said sheet surrounding the printed design during the welding process; and iii) the high frequency welding die is positioned in accurate registration with the printed design; whereby the polyvinyl chloride sheet is provided with a shaped and embossed design which is integrated with a printed design.
2. A method according to Claim 1 , in which the welded areas extend continuously around the entire periphery of the sheet.
3. A method according to Claim 1 , in which the fibrous layer substantially fills the gap between the backing layer and a non-bonded area of the sheet to provide support for the non-bonded area during the high frequency welding process.
4. A method according to Claim 1 , in which a thermoplastics bonding film is interposed between the sheet and the fibrous layer.
5. A method according to Claim 1 , in which the article is adapted to be folded around a belt and is provided with means for securing opposite edges thereof together.
6. An article which includes:
- a flexible backing layer (3) carrying a fibrous layer (4) formed of thermoplastics material, and
- a sheet (5) of polyvinyl chloride superimposed on an area of the fibrous layer, said sheet being bonded to the fibrous layer by high frequency welding applied to selected areas (7) of said sheet which are recessed into the fibrous layer during the welding process, characterised in that i) a decorative design is printed on the polyvinyl chloride sheet; ii) the printed design faces away from the fibrous layer; and iii) the polyvinyl sheet is shaped and profiled by the high frequency welding process to correspond with the printed design; whereby the polyvinyl chloride sheet is provided with a shaped and embossed design which is integrated with a printed design.
7. An article according to Claim 6, in which the welded areas extend continuously around the entire periphery of the sheet.
8. An article according to Claim 6, in which the fibrous layer substantially fills the gap between the backing layer and a non-bonded area of the sheet to provide support for the non-bonded area.
9. An article according to Claim 6, in which a thermoplastics bonding film is interposed between the sheet and the fibrous layer.
10. An article according to Claim 6, which is adapted to be folded around a belt and is provided with means (15) for securing opposite edges thereof together.
PCT/GB1999/002515 1998-08-06 1999-08-03 Embellishing articles WO2000007842A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU51808/99A AU5180899A (en) 1998-08-06 1999-08-03 Embellishing articles
GB0006469A GB2344758B (en) 1998-08-06 1999-08-03 Embellishing articles

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9817047.5A GB9817047D0 (en) 1998-08-06 1998-08-06 Mats
GB9817047.5 1998-08-06
GBGB9821640.1A GB9821640D0 (en) 1998-08-06 1998-10-06 Applying designs to automotive accessories
GB9821640.1 1998-10-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000007842A1 true WO2000007842A1 (en) 2000-02-17

Family

ID=26314166

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1999/002515 WO2000007842A1 (en) 1998-08-06 1999-08-03 Embellishing articles

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5180899A (en)
GB (1) GB2344758B (en)
WO (1) WO2000007842A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001025027A1 (en) * 1999-10-02 2001-04-12 Paul Kimsey Embellishing articles
WO2006123352A1 (en) * 2005-05-17 2006-11-23 Arun Prasad Base mats
WO2007057733A1 (en) * 2005-11-16 2007-05-24 Nokia Corporation Mobile station cover and welding method
WO2016092332A1 (en) * 2014-12-12 2016-06-16 Paul Kimsey Mat with a heel pad
JP2016137815A (en) * 2015-01-27 2016-08-04 トヨタ紡織株式会社 Manufacturing method of floor mat

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2565783B (en) * 2017-08-22 2022-11-30 Kimsey Paul Car mats and similar articles for use in vehicles
WO2020144444A1 (en) 2019-01-08 2020-07-16 Paul Kimsey Car mats and similar articles for use in vehicles

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Cited By (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001025027A1 (en) * 1999-10-02 2001-04-12 Paul Kimsey Embellishing articles
GB2358608A (en) * 1999-10-02 2001-08-01 Paul Kimsey Applying a design to an article
WO2006123352A1 (en) * 2005-05-17 2006-11-23 Arun Prasad Base mats
WO2007057733A1 (en) * 2005-11-16 2007-05-24 Nokia Corporation Mobile station cover and welding method
WO2016092332A1 (en) * 2014-12-12 2016-06-16 Paul Kimsey Mat with a heel pad
GB2533149B (en) * 2014-12-12 2019-09-11 Kimsey Paul Mat with a heel pad
JP2016137815A (en) * 2015-01-27 2016-08-04 トヨタ紡織株式会社 Manufacturing method of floor mat

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