Two-sided Shapeable Fabric Manifold Used Alone or in Combination, Hung Freely as Aerial Sculpture or Decorative Paneling System, or Used Singly as a Semi-Rigid Display Stand or Decorative Accessory

Abstract

A decorative system constituting a shapeable fabric manifold, displaying decorative fabrics on either face and containing internal shapeable elements which allow the manifold to be bent, serving as a decorative display stand, wall-mounted-display, or interconnected as a free-hanging rigid sculpture. The first two embodiments of the invention describe two methods of manufacture with bendable stays or through use of a bendable screen or web interfacing. Individual manifolds may serve as table-top display stands, long fabric manifolds can be wall-mounted to substitute for a swag in a window curtain treatment, while interconnection of bendable manifolds allows for the construction of large light-weight three-dimensional sculptural forms to hang in atriums and public places. Interconnected systems of decorative manifolds can be constructed as spatial dividers, as well as decorative wind and/or sun-screens. Manifolds may constructed to serve as advertising banners or as contoured fabric frames for oil-paintings on canvas.

Claims

1. a two-sided shapeable fabric manifold which may be used alone or in combination with similar manifolds comprising

2. two opposing faces, which may be termed a first face and a second face opposite to the first, which are made of a decorative material, such that a. one or both faces of material of claim 2 may be made of decorative fabric, b. one or both faces of material of claim 2 may be made of natural or man-made hide or snakeskin c. one or both faces of material of claim 2 are of synthetic polymer d. one or both faces of material of claim 2 constitute a quilting of multiple materials a-through-c, above e. both faces of claim 2 can be impregnated with chemicals for the purposes of making the components resistant to environmental hazards, such as excessive sunlight, moisture, biological or insect infestation, sparks and flame.

3. The first embodiment of the invention allows two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be constructed such that each face of decorative material of claim 2 are sewn together with channels around the exterior hem or across either face, allowing shapeable stays to be inserted and freely secured in a fashion allowing certain aesthetic effects, such as: a. the fabric may be gathered along the stay, b. where the stay does not span the entire edge of the manifold, the fabric may be allowed to fall with gravity, c. where the first face and the second face of claim 3 may be created with or without a stabilizing material depending on the weight of said material, and where a stabilizing material is used it may consist of padding (either natural or synthetic) or buckram (either natural or synthetic), d. where the stays of claim 3 are made of bendable wire, rod, or wire ribbon, inserted into the channels constituting an independent reinforcement of the edge of the manifold, but not necessarily spanning the entire edge or seam according to the artistic intent, and where said flexible stays are not rigidly connected to other stays, nor fixed to the fabric other than by sewing closed the hem or channel at either end. e. where the flexible stays of claim 3 are made of i. a malleable metal that will hold a permanent shape when bent, or ii. a flexible plastic that will hold a permanent shape when bent, or iii. twisted rods of fiberglass that will hold a permanent shape when bent, or iv. twisted rods of synthetic polymer fibers that will hold a permanent shape when bent, or v. plastic-, urethane-, or similarly-coated composites of i-iv above.

4. The second embodiment of the invention allows two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be constructed such that the two opposing faces described in claim 2 are bonded to a potentially adhesive interfacing material which has been previously bonded to two opposing surfaces of a bendable substrate, and the opposing faces of decorative material are hemmed together around the edge of the substrate to fully enclose the manifold, and where a. the bendable substrate may be a shapeable plate, laminate material, grid, or mesh, and b. the adhesive interfacing material provides both stability support and give to the fabric-to-substrate bond, and is either heat-fusible to the fabric or otherwise designed to adhere to the fabric in a semi-adjustable manner.

5. The third embodiment of the invention allows individual two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be used as a table-top or wall-mounted commercial signage holder, or similarly, as a personal photograph-holder.

6. The fourth embodiment of the invention allows one or more two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be connected together and used as an artistic paneling system or screen to separate spatial areas, being connected to other elements utilizing any non-rigid mechanical means (such as drapery hooks and wire) that can be freely hung and integrated with lighting for aesthetic effects.

7. The fifth embodiment of the invention allows two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be connected together and used as a three-dimensional free-hanging light-weight sculptural form of any size.

8. The sixth embodiment of the invention allows two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be used as a substitute for a traditional wooden picture frame, such that paintings and 2-dimensional printed graphics on canvas or fabric are integrated into the textile elements of the structure.

9. The seventh embodiment of the invention allows two-sided shapeable (semi-rigid) fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be used as a window treatment in place of a traditional curtain swag.

10. The eighth embodiment of the invention takes advantage of the semi-rigid framework of the two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds of claim 1 to be used alone as decorative table-top tray or as an independent furnishing accessory.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the invention, termed a two-sided shapeable fabric manifold, wherein two opposing pieces of decorative fabric 1A and 1B are sewn and/or fused to interfacings 1F and 1G (as shown on FIG. 1.0). The two opposing pieces with interfacing attached are machine-stitched together as shown in FIG. 1.1. Channels are created during the process of machine-stitching, as shown along dotted lines 1c1,1e 1, and 1h1 on FIG. 1.0. Shapeable stays 1C, 1E, and 1H are inserted made of bendable wire (1c2) or rod. Rod may extend the entire edge of the manifold as shown in 1c1/1C, along a partial edge as in 1h1/1H, or to coincide with the fabric design across the face of the manifold as in 1e1/1E. The stay is freely inserted into the channel such that the fabric may be drawn together for decorative purpose as in 1D. Stays are not rigidly connected to one another at the ends, as shown in 1j, at the possible joint between stay 1H and 1Cthus allowing the artist to freely adjust stay positions at installation.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment of the invention in which the two opposing faces of decorative fabric 2A and 2F are bonded to adhesive interfacing materials 2D and 2E which have been previously bonded to two opposing surfaces of a bendable substrate 2B or 2C, and are hemmed together around the edge of the substrate along the dotted line 2G to fully enclose the manifold,

[0015] FIG. 3 shows how a 2-sided shapeable fabric manifold may be freely shaped and combined with other such manifolds by the artist. 3A in the drawing demonstrates the aesthetic property of adjustable stays such that fabric can be allowed to freely hang. 3B in the drawing shows a leaf-shaped manifold, demonstrating the construction of the primary invention in any shape the artist desires; 3b1 shows the use of a channel across the face of the manifold. 3C in the drawing shows how the entire construction may be freely hung to rotate, as in a mobile sculpture; 3c1, 3c2, 3c3, 3c4 demonstrate that shapeable fabric manifolds are connected at any point the artist desires to create a balance and aesthetic at the time of installation using any traditional method from the clothing, upholstery, or drapery trades which the artist deems aesthetically appropriate, such as drapery hooks, ribbon, chain, cord, button, hook and loop fasteners, etc.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows the fourth embodiment of the invention as an artistic paneling system which can be utilized as a screen (either sun and/or wind screen) or to separate areas in a room and which can be integrated with any form of lighting for special aesthetic effects. 4b1 in the drawing is the demonstration of how the invention expands the application of traditional textile crafts by integrating them into the larger functional application of the art-form (e.g. 4b1 shows knitted macram while 4b2 shows quilting).

[0017] FIG. 5 shows the fifth embodiment of two-sided shapeable fabric manifolds connected together into a three-dimensional free-hanging sculptural form of any size, as depicted through the scale of people and double-doorway 5A.

[0018] FIG. 6 shows the sixth embodiment of the invention as a contoured fabric frame or bendable banner for two-dimensional graphic artwork (6A). 6B shows the location of internal bendable stays for creating the contour. 6C shows the facility for adding any traditional upholstery or drapery ornamentation, such as tassels or fringe. 6D depicts how fabric freely bunched along a stay for aesthetic effect.

[0019] FIG. 7 shows the seventh embodiment of the invention, hung alone in conjunction with fabric ornament 7A (a Dcornament), to serve as an alternative to a traditional swag window treatment.

[0020] FIG. 8 shows the eighth embodiment of the invention: 8A is a single heart-shaped semi-rigid fabric element being used as a decorative table-top tray.

[0021] FIG. 9 shows the third embodiment of the invention as either a free-standing or wall-mounted sign-holder or picture-holder. Illustration 9A shows a traditional wire stand used for signage in retail displays. Illustration 9B shows how the 2-sided fabric manifold may be bent to present the same signage backed by an ornate holder of tapestry, gilt brocade, velour, country cotton plaid or burlap. Illustration 9C shows how the rigid fabric framework of the 2-sided manifold may be attached to a wall with a common pushpin (9C2), while the sign or photo is held in place with common straight-pins (9C1). Illustration 9D shows the same fabric manifold bent to hold the sign or photograph simply by gravity, while being hung on the wall by picture-wire attached to the rigid fabric manifold with two ordinary drapery-hooks (9D1).