Flexible Non Distortable Handcraft Sheet Material and Method of Applying Printed Designs Thereto

Home , Floating canvas, Perforated paper

Europaisches Patentamt J European Patent Office © Publication number: 0 218 922 Office europeen des brevets A1

EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

© Priority: 16.09.85 US 776759 © Applicant: Katz, Marcella M. 10573 Le Conte Avenue © Date of publication of application: Los Angeles Callfomia(US) 22.04.87 Bulletin 87/17 © Inventor: Katz, Marceila M. © Designated Contracting States: 10573 Le Conte Avenue AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE Los Angeies California(US)

Flexible non distortable handcraft sheet material and method of applying printed designs thereto.

© Flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet materials (78), including needlework fabrics, adaptable for receiving printed designs, patterns, photographs and craft instructional information and the methodology for producing the materials with the deisgns, patterns and photographs and instructional information printed thereon. Material alignment and feed features are located along the parallel edges of the materials for moving same through a computer-directed printer (76). In accordance with the methodology visual information in the form of designs, patterns, photographs, flat art work, still objects, live objects, etc. is converted into digital information through a digitizer (68) with the digitized image information thereafter fed to a computer (72) for manipulation and editing by software and keyboard (80) direction •"@and for conversion to visual image information for ^CRT display (74) and for utilization by a computer {^printer as imprinted geographic information. The CM flexible handcraft sheet materials (78) bearing printer 05 feed features include: paper and paper laminates; GO leather, suede, simulated leather, paper-leather and r- plastic-leather laminates; paper-thin woods, wood ve- ^@neers and wood alminates with paper or plastic; ©laminates including non-woven, spun-bonded ran- Qdom fiber plastic sheet; plastic and paper-plastic FI6.6. qj laminates; foil and foil laminates; and like craft materials.

Xerox Copy Centre 0 218 922

FLEXIBLE NON-DISTORTABLE HANDCRAFT SHEET MATERIAL AND METHOD OF APPLYING PRINTED DESIGNS THERETO

The principal types of needlepoint canvases in BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION use today are designated "mono-" meaning one thread on each side of each hole or aperture and 1 . Field of the Invention "double" meaning two threads on each side of 5 each major hole or aperture. There are two basic The present invention relates to handcraft forms of mono-canvases, i.e., "mono-floating" and sheet materials. More particularly, the invention re- "mono-interlock." With mono-floating canvas the lates to needlework materials having a uniform pat- warp and weft (woof) threads are merely woven tern of apertures forming a symmetrical gridwork over and under each other whereas with mono- intended to receive needle-directed yarn or thread 10 interlock canvas the warp threads (in fact) comprise for the purpose of creating a stitchery design there- two smaller (weaker) threads that are knotted or on and to other flexible handcraft sheet materials twisted at each over and under crossing of weft including paper, plastics, leather, wood and fabrics. threads. Because of the weaving method, mono- The present invention further relates to materials of floating canvases are subject to greater slippage the type described which are adaptable for receiv- 75 between threads so that the mesh pattern of the ing printed designs, patterns, photographs and in- canvas easily becomes distorted, i.e., the holes or structional information and to methods of printing apertures become of non-uniform size and configu- designs, patterns, photographs and instructional in- ration with repeated folding and needlepoint work- formation thereon. ing of the canvas. 20 Double thread needlepoint canvas (also re- ferred to as "Duo" or "Penelope") is woven with 2. Description of the Prior Art the warp and woof threads that form the principal holes or apertures of the canvas each comprised of a. Needlework a pair of slightly spaced threads which form small 25 apertures. This weave of needlepoint canvas is Embroidery is the art or process of forming useful when it is desired to use half stitches or decorative designs with hand needlework. When an where petit point stitches (small) and gross point open-mesh canvas or apertured sheet material hav- stitches (large) are to be worked on the same ing a uniform gridwork is used to receive the nee- canvas. Other fine woven textiles used in the needlework, the art form is characterized as 30 dlework arts include cloths woven so that the in- "needlepoint" or "canvas embroidery." Need- dividual threads are thicker than the holes between lepoint is distinguished from other forms of embroi- them, "evenweave" cloth and "Congress" cloth. dery, such as crewel embroidery, in that in need- From time to time other forms of needlepoint lepoint the stitches are formed by passing needle- canvas have been manufactured. For example, directed yarn or thread through openings in the 35 molded plastic, large gauge (4-15) mesh sheets, canvas or apertured sheet material in simple even with a surface texture simulating the warp and woof stitches across counted threads or between count- thread configuration of woven needlepoint canvas, ed apertures. or with a smooth surface texture, have been made. Needlepoint canvas, in its simplest form, is Also, perforated paper sheets have been made and comprised of evenly spaced, durable warp and 40 proposed for needlepoint projects of relatively woof threads woven into a textile in which the holes small size where the resulting needlework is to be or apertures between the threads are commonly framed as a decorative item or where a free-form equal to or larger in size than the threads them- craft item is to be created using needlework tech- selves. The canvas threads are usually composed niques, i.e., book markers, greeting cards, etc. of cotton or linen fibers, particularly where the 45 Mono-floating and mono-interlock needlepoint gauge of the canvas (number of threads per inch) canvases have continued to be used for most falls within the popular range of 10 to 18. Fine stitchery applications despite their many shortcom- gauge, needlepoint fabrics normally have 18 to 40 ings and the problems they create for the need- threads per inch and are woven from silk or syn- lepoint artisan. The principal shortcomings and thetic fiber threads in addition to cotton and linen 50 problems include edge raveling, canvas distortion, fiber threads. Textile and fabric materials, manufac- aperture irregularity and roughness, and thread tured for use as needlepoint canvas, are usually shifting. Great care must be taken when cutting sold by their manufacturers in "bolt" (roll) units bolt or yardage canvas into smaller popular use having a minimum of 5-10 yards of material. size canvas pieces to make certain that each cut- 0 218 922

ting course or line follows a single line of canvas There are five principal variables associated holes or apertures, i.e., between warp and woof with each needlework design, i.e., a) stitch types, threads, so that edge raveling is minimized. Edge b) stitch placement, c) canvas grid or mesh size, raveling becomes an even greater problem when d) yarn thickness and e) yarn color. Yarn thickness the ultimate shape of the needlepoint piece is not 5 and canvas mesh size can be readily indicated by rectangular with its edges not in parallel with warp simple directions on the pattern while stitch types, and woof threads. stitch placement and yarn color directions are more Canvas distortion, stretching, sagging, exten- difficult to indicate. sion and creep constitute major problems to per- Where fine embroidery on linen or other fine sons performing needlepoint stitchery. If one close- 10 mesh material is to be performed by the artisan, ly observes needlework canvas as needlepoint the design or pattern may be printed, drawn or stitchery is applied, it becomes obvious that the painted on (or transferred to) the fabric and the vertical and horizontal forces applied to the canvas artisan merely sews over the design or pattern. threads (defining each aperture in the canvas) by With needlepoint designs, stitch type variation is the yarn-guiding needle and the yarn itself (as they 75 usually involved. Further, since the commonly used pass through such apertures) are unequal. Al- canvas types (10 to 18 mesh) are substantially air though canvas manufacturers have attempted to space (apertures greater than canvas thread thick- reduce the distortion problem through the weaving ness), printing of stitch type instructions is not of mono-interlock canvases and by the application feasible since most stitchery is directionally orien- of sizing (stiffening) agents to the canvas threads, 20 tated. Also, the present-day woven canvas materi- the problem remains. Distortion correction, after als are distortable and not perfectly true in mesh or completion of the needlework piece, by straighten- grid structure and when design printing thereon is ing or "blocking" the base canvas (and the needle- attempted, the design frequently does not properly work it bears) must overcome many built-in failure align with the gridwork of the canvas with the result factors. Blocking, a somewhat costly procedure, 25 that stitch type location is faulty. Only thread-by- involves the stretching and straightening of the thread hand painted designs are true and they are needlework to its pre-stretched size and shape. very time consuming and costly to produce. The foregoing problems with needlepoint can- In view of the foregoing state-of-the-art in nee- vas materials have been obviated through my im- dlework stitchery, popularly priced designs are proved flexible, non-distortable composite laminat- 30 most commonly shown on separate charts indicated sheet materials comprised of a primary layer of ing the specific location of stitch types and yarn non-elastic, open-mesh woven needlepoint fabric colors on a line gridwork representing the canvas which has bonded to one of its faces a relative thin, gridwork. In using these charts, the needlework non-elastic secondary mesh-stabilizing layer of artisan must refer to the chart before applying one sheer (semi-transparent) fabric. The primary layer 35 or several more stitches. Constant back-and-forth is preferably a non-floating or non-interlock need- cross-reference between the chart and the needle- lepoint canvas material. The sheer fabric secondary work piece is necessary. layer of the composite laminated needlepoint canvas material is preferably a non-woven, semi-transparent, random-spun synthetic fiber material or a 40 b. Leatherwork. sheer closely woven fabric material. The secondary layer is of such a sheerness that the holes or Leatherwork encompasses the cutting, tooling apertures of the canvas primary layer remain dis- and burning of decorative designs in leathers, tinct to the needlepoint artisan and the secondary tanned leathers, suede materials and a wide selec- layer is relatively thin so that it is easily penetrated ts tion of imitation and simulated leather materials. by the yarn-bearing stitchery needle. Also, leatherwork may include handcraft design An infinite number of decorative fabrics may be work that involves such materials in design formed by applying needlework techniques to nee- punched or cut forms with the addition of a variety dlework canvas materials. These fabrics may vary of attached media and adornments. As in the case widely in stitch type, yarn thickness, yam colours, so of needlework, it is desirable to apply designs and etc. Although some needlework artisans create patterns to leather and leather-like materials for their own stitchery designs while sewing a fabric or their instructional utility in the performance of cut- create a design on paper and reproduce it on the ting, punching, tooling, burning, and adornment fabric, a primary source of designs is provided in handcraft procedures and for their nonfunctional kit form with the kit containing a pattern, the yarn 55 decorative effects. types and colors and an appropriate canvas material, or needlwork patterns are sold independent- ly. 0 218 922 c. Paperwork. invention. The readily available and less expensive dot-matrix printers create visual images by produc- Numerous handcraft ideas have been suggest- ing a series of dots laid out on a grid pattern. ed and developed involving the use of paper, con- These dots are produced by one of three printing struction paper, flexible paper board and like ma- 5 methods, i.e., impact, thermal or ink-jet. Computer terials. Again, designs and patterns are frequently direction of printer 76 is accomplished via trans- applied to these materials in their flat, pre-crafted mission cable 72b and the computer is responsive state as instructional information and as decorative in its transmitting of display information to CRT design matter to add to the overall visual effect of display unit 74 and printout information to printer the finished handcraft item. io 76 to the commands generated by keyboard 80 (through cable 80a) and graphic and artistic sol- ftware programs and menus supplied to the com- d. Woodcraft. puter. Through a number of available computer soft- Thin, flexible sheets of wood, wood veneers 75 ware programs the digitized image information re- and wood-simulated plastics have come into popu- lating to a given design, pattern or photograph may lar use in the handcraft arts. As with leatherwork be manipulated by, and edited through, keyboard materials, wood and wood-like materials used in direction. A pattern line grid can be created that handcraft projects usually require the application of corresponds in mesh size to the line gridwork decorative design and pattern instructional informa- 20 formed by the threads of needlework canvas mation for use in the performance of cutting, punch- terials upon which the computer-aligned and ing, burning and mixed-media application proce- computer-directed printing of a design, pattern or dures and for adding to the visual appearance of photograph is to occur. The computer-created line the final craft item. grid may be displayed by the CRT unit with lo- ss cated along the edges thereof for moving said material through a computer-directed printer for e. Plasticwork and Foils. imprinting a design, pattern or photograph on the print surface thereof. The wide variety of flexible sheet plastic ma- In another aspect the invention provides a terials and foil materials in a full range of colors 30 method of producing handcraft sheet materials and tints have made such materials highly desir- bearing imprinted designs, patterns or photographs able for handcraft projects. Metalized plastic mosa- as craft instructional or decorative visual informa- ics in flexible sheet form are, for example, being tion for use in creating finished handcrafted items used as a craft medium for making fashion acces- incorporating the printed area of the sheet materi- sories including belts, necklaces, rings and pen- 35 als the method comprising the steps of: digitizing dants. The need for the imprinting of designs and an image consisting of the design, pattern or pho- handcraft patterns on these types of materials is tographic subject matter to be applied to the hand- increasing. craft sheet materials to convert the visual image information respecting said design, pattern or pho- 40 tographic subject matter into digital image informa- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tion; feeding the digital image information to a computer; feeding a flexible non-distortable sheet Briefly, and in general terms, the invention pro- of handcraft material to an electronic printer, the vides a flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet ma- sheet material presenting a surface adaptable for terial having a print surface on at least one side 45 receiving imprinting thereon; and printing the se- thereof for receiving computer-generated print de- lected handcraft design, pattern or photographic signs, patterns, and photographs as craft instruc- subject matter comprising the visual image infor- tional or decorative visual information for use in mation on the print surface of said sheet of hand- creating finished handcrafted items incorporating craft material via the electronic printer as directed the printed areas of the sheet material, the hand- so by said computer. craft sheet material having alignment and feed means same via cable 72a to a CRT display unit 74 (black and white or color picture) for viewing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The digital image information is also utilized by micro-computer 72 to direct a printer 76 of either 55 FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a portion of a the dot-matrix or laser type to print out (black and piece of woven, apertured needlework material em- white or color) the visual image information on the bodying the features of this invention; flexible, non-distortable handcraft material 78 of the 0 218 922

FIGURE 1a is an enlarged segment of the 10c and 10d, respectively, which penetrate material piece of needlework material of FIGURE 1; 10 and correspond in size and edge spacing to the FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a portion of a standardized pin-feed (tractor) drive mechanisms of piece of nonwoven, perforated paper needlework the many well-known computer-directed printers. material embodying the features of this invention; 5 Such printers commonly handle paper widths of 4 FIGURE 2a is an enlarged segment of the to 15.5 inches and special printers are available piece of needlework material of FIGURE 2; which accept paper widths of as much as 4 feet. FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a portion of a Thus, in accordance with the present invention piece of extruded plastic, simulated woven aper- needlework materials of varying widths, and pre- tured needlework material embodying the features 70 senting a printable surface, may be fabricated with of this invention; edge pin holes for moving such materials in posi- FIGURE 3a is an enlarged segment of the tive drive through a computer-directed printer or piece of needlework material of FIGURE 3; the materials may be provided with side bands for FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a portion of a frictionally moving same through a printer. piece of leather, simulated leather, paper, plastic, rs In FIGURES 2 and 2a the needlework material foil or other sheet craft material having a random is a composite laminated material 20 comprised (as perforation design and embodying the features of particularly shown in FIGURE 2a) of a non-elastic, this invention; heavy, perforated paper primary layer 22 including FIGURE 4a is an enlarged segment of the uniformly spaced perforations 24 forming a grid of piece of craft material of FIGURE 4; 20 perforations for receiving needlework stitchery, FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a portion of a which has bonded directly to one of its faces a piece of flexible plastic mosaic sheet craft material relatively thin, non-elastic secondary layer of sheer embodying the features of this invention; fabric material 26. The sheer fabric side of the FIGURE 5a is an enlarged segment of the laminated material 20 presents a relatively smooth piece of mosaic craft material of FIGURE 5; and 25 surface adaptable for receiving imprinted designs, FIGURE 6 is a somewhat diagramatic show- patterns and photographs. Along each parallel edge ing of alternative methods of applying designs, 20a and 20b of material 20 are located a line of patterns or photographic prints to a print surface of uniformly spaced pin holes 20c and 20d, respec- the handcraft materials of this invention. tively, which penetrate the material 20 and receive 30 the standardized pin-feed drive mechanisms of computer-directed printers. In instances where PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVEN- there is adequate paper surface around the uni- TION formly spaced perforations of material layer 22 it may not be necessary to bond a sheer fabric Referring initially to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 and 35 secondary layer to layer 22 to obtain a material to their respective segmental enlargements FIG- surface adaptable for receiving imprinted designs, URES 1a, 2a and 3a of the drawings, there is patterns or photographs. Thus, such imprinting by shown examples of the apertured and perforated a computer-directed printer may be applied directly needlework materials of the invention which are to a surface of the perforated paper which accepts adaptable for receiving computer-generated printed 40 the imprinted matter or has been treated to accept needlework designs, patterns and photographs. In such imprinted matter. FIGURES 1 and 1a the apertured needlework ma- In FIGURES 3 and 3a the needlework material terial is a composite laminated needlepoint canvas is a composite laminated material 30 comprised (as material 10 comprised (as particularly shown in particularly shown in FIGURE 3a) of a non-elastic, FIGURE 1a) of a non-elastic, open-mesh woven 45 extruded plastic, woven open-mesh needlework pri- needlework fabric primary layer 12 including warp mary layer 32 including simulated warp compo- threads 14 and weft threads 16, which has bonded nents 34 and simulated weft components 36. The directly to one of its faces a relatively thin, non- primary layer 32 has bonded directly to one of its elastic, mesh-stabilizing secondary layer of sheer faces a relatively thin, nonelastic secondary layer fabric material 18. The composite laminated need- so of sheer fabric material 38. The sheer fabric side of lepoint canvas material 10 may be any of my the laminated material 30 presents a relatively improved flexible, non-distortabie composite lami- smooth surface adaptable for receiving imprinted nated sheet materials as described hereinbefore. designs, patterns or photographs. Along each par- These materials all present on their sheer fabric allel edge 30a and 30b of the material 30 are side a relatively smooth surface adaptable for re- 55 located a line of uniformly spaced pin holes 30c ceiving imprinted designs, patterns or photographs. and 30d, respectively, which penetrate the material Along each parallel edge 10a and 10b of material 30 and receive the standardized pin-feed drive 10 are located a line of uniformly spaced pin holes mechanisms of computer-driven printers. In in- 0 218 922 10 stances where the extruded plastic openmesh pri- shown). Thus, the primary layer may be carried by mary layer 32 does not simulate woven needlework a secondary release paper layer or non-woven fab- material but merely comprises an extruded plastic ric material bearing a release adhesive and the gridwork having a uniform pattern of apertures and computer-directed imprinting may be applied to the the plastic surface around the apertures is smooth - 5 secondary layer of paper or non-woven fabric ma- (no warp and weft surface texture), it may not be terial or to the primary layer 42. Along the parallel necessary to bond a sheer fabric secondary layer edge 40a and 40b of material 40 are located a line to layer 32 to obtain a material surface adaptable of uniformly spaced pin holes 40c and 40d, respec- for receiving imprinted designs, patterns, or pho- tively, which penetrate the material 40 (layer 42 tographs. Thus, such imprinting by a computer- io and any secondary laminate layer) and receive the directed printer may be applied directly to a sur- standardized pin-feed drive mechanisms of face of the extruded plastic which accepts the computer-directed printers. The design or pattern imprinted matter or has been treated to accept imprinted on material 40 may be instructive as to such imprinted matter, crafting steps to be taken (cutting, tooling, punch- As previously indicated, apertured and perfo- 75 ing, burning, coloring, affixing, etc.), may provide rated needlework materials of the invention may be non-functional decorative art work on the material, provided in a variety of common printer widths or may be functionally related or interrelated to ranging between 4 to 15.5 inches and in special other craft materials or craft constructs forming a situations in substantially greater widths. Preferably part of the material 40 or to be matched to or the material is supplied in bolts of several yards or 20 associated with such material. more and fed from a spool into the computer- In FIGURES 5 and 5a the craft material is a directed printer because of the thickness of the flexible sheet 50 of plastic pieces 52 forming a material and its stiffness as compared to common mosaic arrangement mounted on a self-adhesive printer paper. Where the needlework material of the layer 54 (see FIGURE 5a) protected by a backing invention is reasonably flexible and relatively thin it 25 layer (not shown). The plastic pieces can be may be fed to the printer as fanfolded material. scored and bent for crafting purposes and are Individual packets of separate pre-cut sheets of the adaptable to printing for the receipt of designs and needlework materials may also be fed to the print- patterns. Along the parallel edge 50a and 50b of er. The edge strips of the needlework material material 50 are located a line of uniformly spaced including the pin holes may be cut away from the 30 pin holes 50c and 50d, respectively, which pene- material after it has received the imprinted subject trate the material 50 (layer of plastic pieces 52, self matter. Alternatively, the pin holes may be utilized adhesive layer 54 and backing layer) and receive as mounting means for the finished needlework the standardized pin-feed (tractor) drive mecha- item, or means for connecting the finished or unfin- nisms of computer-directed printers. ished needlework item to another correlant craft 35 Referring now to FIGURE 6 there is shown in material or craft construct. somewhat diagramatic fashion the methodology of In FIGURES 4 and 4a the craft material is a applying designs, patterns, photographs and craft sheet 40 of leather, tanned leather, suede or simu- instructional information to a print surface of one of lated leather, a laminate of leather and leather-like the handcraft materials of this invention. For pur- material with an adhesive coating on a carrier ma- 40 poses of describing the methodology, the handcraft terial such as release paper, or a sheet of craft material illustrative thereof is a flexible, non-distor- paper or craft plastic or laminate of such material table needlework material comprised of a laminate with an adhesive coating on a release carrier ma- of open-mesh woven needlepoint fabric which has terial or a foil material or foil laminate or paper and bonded to one of its faces a relatively thin secon- paper laminates or plastic-leather laminates or pa- 45 dary mesh-stabilizing layer of non-woven, semi- per thin woods or wood veneers or wood laminates transparent (sheer), random-spun, synthetic fiber with paper or plastic or other laminates including material, the secondary layer providing this hand- non-woven, spun-bonded random fiber plastic craft material with a print surface for receiving sheets or plastic or plastic-paper laminates. The printed design, pattern, photographic and/or in- single layered or primary layer of material 42 of 50 structional information. sheet 40, as shown, includes various sizes of As previously mentioned, the methodology of punched holes or perforations 44 forming a design the invention for producing needlework and other of perforations leaving large material surface areas craft materials bearing designs, patterns, photo- for the imprinting of designs and crafting instruc- graphs and craft instructional information com- tional information. Where the sheet material 40 55 prises the utilization of digitized images of designs, comprises a laminate of materials the primary layer patterns, photographs, still objects, live objects, material 42 may be permanently or temporarily etc. (the subject matter for needlework stitchery) bonded to a secondary layer of material (not which are computer-directed to a printer. The print- 11 0 218 922 12

er is fed with the flexible, non-distortable sheet in its transmitting of display information to CRT handcraft material (needlework material, etc.) of the display unit 74 and printout information to printer invention with its print receiving surface. In accor- 76 to the commands generated by keyboard 80 - dance with the methodology the visual information (through cable 80a) and graphic and artistic soft- (the design subject matter) is converted into digital 5 ware programs and menus supplied to the com- information through a digitizer. As shown in FIG- puter. URE 6 the digitizer may be of either the video type Through a number of available computer soft- 60 utilizing the standard video signal information ware programs the digitized image information re- from video a camera 62, a video cassette recorder lating to a given design, pattern or photograph may 64 or a video disk player 66 (fed to digitizer 60 by w be manipulated by, and edited through, keyboard their respective transmission cables 62a, 64a and direction. A pattern line grid can be created that 66a) or the optical type 68 utilizing a light emitter corresponds in mesh size to the line gridwork and detector unit 70 with the optical signal informa- formed by the threads of needlework canvas mation fed to digitizer 68 via transmission cable 70a. terials upon which the computer-aligned and All digitizers convert visual information into digital is computer-directed printing of a design, pattern or information by breaking down an image into a photograph is to occur. The computer-created line mesh of fine dots and assigning a specific numeri- grid may be displayed by the CRT unit with the cal value to the gray level found in each dot. Video visual image proposed for needlework handcrafting digitizers use standard video signals created by displayed in superimposed fashion thereon. The scanning flat designs, photographs, and three-di- 20 displayed image may be shifted over the displayed mensional objects (still and alive). As shown in line grid for alignment purposes and the image (if FIGURE 6 video camera 62 is scanning a flat video originated) may be block pixelized to render D. design Optical digitizers, through their emitter- it as a mosaic pattern matched to the squares detector system of present day design, scan only within the line grid (corresponding to the needle- photographs, illustrations or other flat artwork D. 25 work apertures) or to cross points of the line grid - The emitter projects a tiny beam of light onto the (corresponding to the thread cross points of the flat image and the light sensitive detector senses needlework material). An image may be "zoomed" the degree of lightness or darkness in each dot of down and then "zoomed back up to its original size. the image as the beam goes over it. Thus, optical This process squeezes information out of the im- digitizers base their generated digital information 30 age and then displays the image in its lower reso- on the light beam's reflection value. A video lution and thereby more obvious pixel shape, digitizer turns the video signals it receives into a "posturization" can further enlarge the pixel groups stream of binary numbers, reducing the light inten- and create abstracts of an image. With optical sities represented by the video signal to a high- digitization the generated pixels are generally rec- contrast image which a computer can represent 35 tangular so that only blocks of pixels can be made digitally. to be exactly aligned with the square gridwork of The digitized image information derived needlework canvas materials. Thus, computer tech- through a video digitizer 60 or by an optical nology and aesthetics are merged and displayed. digitizer 68 is fed through transmission cable 60a The computer image pixels, like the needlework or 68a, respectively, to any one of the many avail- 40 apertures, are an array of small squares which able types and models of personal computers re- build into a larger picture or geometric design. presented in FIGURE 6 as micro-computer system Placing these pixels exactly in line with or within unit 72. The micro-computer 72 converts the digital the screen grid (and thus the needlework grid) image information into visual image information and allows the computer-directed printer to print a transmits same via cable 72a to a CRT display unit 45 mosaic-like picture on the sheer print surface of the 74 (black and white or color picture) for viewing. needlework material in alignment with the apertures The digital image information is also utilized by of the woven primary layer of such material. This micro-computer 72 to direct a printer 76 of either makes possible the merger of user-friendly printer the dot-matrix or laser type to print out (black and interfacing off the computer screen canvas of mo- white or color) the visual image information on the so saic computer imagery onto the printer-fed classic flexible, non-distortable handcraft material 78 of the woven textile craft form of needlework canvas im- invention. The readily available and less expensive agery. Herein, the modern computer signature dot-matrix printers create visual images by produc- translates with precision onto the ancient needle- ing a series of dots laid out on a grid pattern. work artforms. These dots are produced by one of three printing 55 The foregoing transposition of visual images methods, i.e., impact, thermal or ink-jet. Computer into digital information and back, via computer direction of printer 76 is accomplished via trans- technology, to printed imagery in exact alignment mission cable 72b and the computer is responsible with the gridwork of the needlecraft materials of the 13 0 218 922 14 invention equals and supplants the need for costly material may include a carrier material such as hand painted needlework materials. Furthermore, release paper or non-woven fabric material leaving the methodology of the invention eliminates the the ultimate print-bearing craft sheet adhesive free tedium of back-and-forth reference between nee- or leaving the craft sheet with pressure sensitive dlework material and craft chart guidelines and 5 adhesive coating for mounting purposes. stitchery information. In the specification and drawing figures there Through a number of software programs, artis- has been set forth preferred embodiments of the tic and color on-screen designing changes can be invention and although specific terms have been made with respect to the CRT displayed image and employed, they are used in a generic and descrip- unique effects can be created and thereafter print- io tive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, ed out on the needlework or other craft materials of the scope of the invention being defined in the the invention. Thus, image zooming, shifting, rotat- following claims. ing, mirroring, stretching, shrinking, transposing, color cycling, color enhancing, mating, multiplying, etc. can be accomplished through software and 75 Claims keyboard direction. After finishing image manipulation as viewed on the CRT screen, the displayed 1. A flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet image information (with or without a computer- material having a print surface on at least one side created line grid matching the needlework grid) is thereof for receiving computer-generated print de- computer-directed to the printer for imprinting on 20 signs, patterns, and photographs as craft instruc- the needlework or other craft material as fed tional or decorative visual information for use in through the printer with the result that the visual creating finished handcrafted items incorporating printed image, produced by the printer, is in sym- the printed areas of said sheet material, said hand- metrical alignment with the gridwork of the needlecraft sheet material having alignment and feed work material or in synchronized positioning on the 25 means located along the edges thereof for moving print surface of these and other craft materials. In said material through a computer-directed printer the case of needlework designs, computer-gen- for imprinting a design, pattern or photograph on erated grid outlines can be rendered in any number the print surface thereof. of different pattern choices to match the particular 2. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet material to be imprinted. For example, dot grid 30 material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the align- symbols can be established and embellished in ment and feed means located along the edges of precise dot alignment with the perforations of the said handcraft material comprises a line of uni- needlework paper material of the invention bearing formly spaced pin holes through said material for a non-woven laminate backing providing a full print receiving the pin-feed drive mechanisms of a surface. Further, grid symbols can be chosen and 35 computer-directed printer. supplied in the printed image which exactly match 3. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet the slant of stitch directions. material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the align- It will be apparent through the foregoing de- ment and feed means located along the edges of scriptions of the handcraft materials of this inven- said handcraft material comprises means for friction and of the methodology of the invention - 40 tionally engaging the friction feed drive mechanism (described for the most part in connection with of a computer-directed compter. unique needlework materials) that a multitude of 4. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet craft materials can now be made available which material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hand- bear printed designs, patterns, photographs and craft material is needlework material selected from instructional information. The printed matter is ap- 45 the group comprising woven canvas with a rela- plied to the craft materials in exact alignment with tively thin secondary layer of sheer non-elastic the features of the materials (gridwork, slits, cut- material bonded thereto, perforated paper, and ex- outs, pasteons, perforations, etc.) so that the arti- truded plastic gridwork material. san can readily create a superior crafted item with 5. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet the printed matter incorporated therein as the func- 50 material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hand- tional, directional information for accomplishing the craft material is selected from the group compris- crafting and/or to provide non-functional visual ing: paper and paper laminates; leather, suede and decorative effects in the crafted item. The means simulated leather; paper-leather and plastic-leather for feeding the handcraft materials of the invention laminates; paper-thin woods, wood veneers and through a computer-directed printer often may 55 wood laminates with paper or plastic sheet ma- serve as a functional feature of the crafted item, terial; plastic sheet materials; non-woven random- i.e., mounting, binding, edging means and the like. spun plastic fiber sheet material; plastic and paper- Where required by the nature of the craft type, the plastic laminates; metallic foils and foil-paper and

8 15 0 218 922 16 foil-plastic laminates; paper and plastic sheet car- a) digitizing an image consisting of the de- rier materials bearing secondary handcraft sheet sign, pattern or photographic subject matter to be materials adhered to the carrier materials via re- applied to the handcraft sheet materials to convert lease or pressure sensitive adhesives; and any of the visual image information respecting said de- the foregoing handcraft materials pre-treated with 5 sign, pattern or photographic subject matter into coatings to improve image printing receptivity, col- digital image information; detail or, or density. b) feeding the digital image information to a 6. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet computer; material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material c) feeding a flexible non-distortable sheet of comprises: w handcraft material to an electronic printer, said a) a primary layer of non-eiastic material sheet material presenting a surface adaptable for having a uniform pattern of apertures forming a receiving imprinting thereon; and symmetrical gridwork for receiving needlework d) printing the selected handcraft design, and yarn; pattern or photographic subject matter comprising b) a relatively thin secondary layer of sheer 75 the visual image information on the print surface of non-elastic material bonded to said primary layer, said sheet of handcraft material via the electronic said secondary layer presenting the print surfaces printer as directed by said computer. for receiving computer-generated printed needle- 13. The method of producing handcraft sheet work designs, patterns and photographs and said materials as claimed in claim 12 wherein said material alignment and feed means located along 20 handcraft material is needlework material selected the of edges said handcraft sheet material are from the group comprising woven canvas with a positioned to move said material through the relatively thin secondary layer of sheer non-elastic computer-directed printer for imprinting the design, material bonded thereto, perforated paper, and ex- pattern or photograph on the print surface of the truded plastic gridwork material. secondary layer of said material in needlework 25 14. The method of producing handcraft sheet stitchery alignment with the symmetrical gridwork materials as claimed in claim 12 wherein said of said primary layer. handcraft material is selected from the group com- 7. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet prising: paper and paper laminates; leather, suede material as claimed in claim 6 wherein the primary and simulated leather; paper-leather and plastic- of layer non-elastic material is a fabric selected 30 leather laminates; paper-thin woods, wood veneers from the group comprising mono-floating, mon-in- and wood laminates with paper or plastic sheet terlock and double thread woven canvas material, material; plastic sheet materials; non-woven congress cloth, evenweave fabric and other woven random-spun plastic fiber sheet material; plastic needlework fabrics. and paper-plastic laminates; metallic foils and foil- 8. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet 35 paper and foil-plastic laminates; paper and plastic material as claimed in claim 6 wherein the primary sheet carrier materials bearing secondary handcraft layer of non-elastic material is a perforated paper sheet materials adhered to the carrier material via material. release or pressure sensitive adhesives; and any of 9. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet the foregoing handcraft materials pre-treated with material as claimed in claim 6 wherein the primary 40 coatings to improve image printing receptivity, col- layer of non-elastic material is an extruded plastic or, detail or density. gridwork material. 15. The method of producing handcraft sheet 10. The flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet meterials as claimed in claim 12 wherein the digital material as claimed in claim 6 wherein the relative image information feed to the computer is scanned thin secondary layer of sheer non-elastic material 45 to reproduce the digitized image on the screen of a bonded to said primary layer is a non-woven, display unit. random-spun synthetic fiber textile material. 16. The method of producing hand craft sheet 1 1 The . flexible non-distortable handcraft sheet materials as claimed in claim 15 wherein: a) a material as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rela- computer program symmetrical gridwork is applied thin tively secondary layer of sheer-non-elastic ma- so to the reproduced digitized image on the screen of terial bonded to said primary layer is a closely said display unit, said computer program gridwork woven textile material. corresponding in size and configuration to the sym- 12. A method of producing handcraft sheet metrical thread-defining gridwork of a needlework materials bearing imprinted designs, patterns or canvas material; b) the reproduced digitized image photographs as craft instructional or decorative vi- 55 is converted via said computer to selected needle- sual information for use in creating finished hand- work stitch symbols and color shades correspond- craft items incorporating the printed area of said ing to the design, pattern or photographic subject sheet materials comprising the steps of: matter comprising the visual image information and

9 17 0 218 922 18

said stitch symbols and color shades are aligned secondary layer of said composite needlework can- via said computer with the computer program grid- vas material via the electronic printer as directed work; and c) the selected needlework stitch sym- by said computer in alignment with the symmetri- bols and color shades corresponding to the design, cal thread-defining gridwork of said needlework pattern or photographic subject matter comprising 5 material. the visual image information are printed on the

10 0 218 922

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FIG. 5a. FIG. 5. 0 218 922

FI6.6. European Patent Application number J» EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT Office

EP 86 11 2562 DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Citation of document with indication, where Category appropriate, Relevant CLASSIFICATION OF THE of relevant passages to claim APPLICATION (Int. CI.4)

GB-A-2 126 830 (CALLER) 1-16 D 05 C 1/08 * Whole document *

US-A-4 090 300 (MASSUCCI) 1-16 * Whole document *

US-A-4 154 181 (MASSUCCI) 1-16 * Whole document *

DE-A-3 139 327 (SCHOENENBERGER) 1-16 * Whole document *

TECHNICAL FIELDS SEARCHED (Int. CI.4,

D 05 C

The present search report has been drawn up for all claims Place of search Date of completion of the search Examiner THE HAGUE 09-02-1987 VUILLEMIN L.F. CATEGORY OF CITED DOCUMENTS T : theory or principle underlying the invention E : earlier patent document, but published on, or particularly relevant if taken alone after the filing date particularly relevant if combined with another 0 : document cited in the application document of the same category L : document cited for other reasons technological background non-written disclosure & : member of the same patent family, corresponding intermediate document document