SEWN FELT COMPOSITE

Abstract

A felt composite (10) comprises at least one first felt layer (12), a multi-element second felt layer (14) disposed on the first felt layer (12) and comprising at least one first felt form element (16a) and one second felt form element (16b), wherein the first felt form element (16a) has a first edge (20a) and the first felt form element (16a) is sewn up with the first felt layer (12) by means of a first seam (18a) along the first edge (20a), and wherein the second felt form element (16b) has a second edge (20b) running along the first edge (20a) of the first felt form element (16a) and the second felt form element (16b) is sewn up with the first felt layer (12) by means of a second seam (18b) along the second edge (20b).

Claims

1. A felt composite, comprising: at least one first felt layer; a multi-element second felt layer disposed on the first felt layer and comprising at least one first felt form element and at least one second felt form element, which are disposed next to one another on the first felt layer; wherein the first felt form element and the second felt form element are sewn up with the first felt layer separate from one another along abutting edges; wherein the first felt form element has a first edge and the first felt form element is sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a first seam along the first edge; wherein the second felt form element has a second edge running along and abutting the first edge of the first felt form element and the second felt form element is sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a second seam along the second edge.

2. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first seam and the second seam is a machine seam.

3. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first seam and the second seam is a straight stitch seam.

4. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first felt form element and the second felt form element is circumferentially sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a seam.

5. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first felt form element and the second felt form element are glued to the first felt layer.

6. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein the felt form elements of the second felt layer completely cover the first felt layer.

7. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein first felt form element and the second felt form element have the same height.

8. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein the first felt layer, the first felt form element and the second felt form element are made of wool felt.

9. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein a gap between the first edge and the second edge is less than a height of at least one of the first felt form element and the second felt form element.

10. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein the first edge and the second edge abut.

11. The felt composite of claim 1, wherein the second felt layer is sewn up with the first felt layer along a circumferential edge of the felt composite.

12. A felt cover, comprising: a plurality of felt composites as modules of the felt cover; and a third felt layer; wherein each of the felt composites comprises at least one first felt layer and a multi-element second felt layer disposed on the first felt layer and comprising at least one first felt form element and at least one second felt form element, which are disposed next to one another on the first felt layer; wherein the first felt form element and the second felt form element are sewn up with the first felt layer separate from one another along abutting edges; wherein the first felt form element has a first edge and the first felt form element is sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a first seam along the first edge; wherein the second felt form element has a second edge running along and abutting the first edge of the first felt form element and the second felt form element is sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a second seam along the second edge; wherein the felt composites are at least one of glued and sewn onto the third felt layer adjacently to one another.

13. The felt cover of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first felt form element and the second felt form element is circumferentially sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a seam.

14. The felt cover of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first felt form element and the second felt form element are glued to the first felt layer.

15. The felt cover of claim 12, wherein the second felt layer is sewn up with the first felt layer along a circumferential edge of at least some of the felt composites.

16. A felt cover, comprising: at least one felt composite; a third felt layer onto which the at least one felt composite is at least one of glued and sewn; a further felt layer; wherein each of the felt composites comprises at least one first felt layer and a multi-element second felt layer disposed on the first felt layer and comprising at least one first felt form element and at least one second felt form element, which are disposed next to one another on the first felt layer; wherein the first felt form element and the second felt form element are sewn up with the first felt layer separate from one another along abutting edges; wherein the first felt form element has a first edge and the first felt form element is sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a first seam along the first edge; wherein the second felt form element has a second edge running along and abutting the first edge of the first felt form element and the second felt form element is sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a second seam along the second edge; wherein the further felt layer is disposed on the third felt layer adjacently to the felt composite and comprising at least one further felt form element; wherein the further felt form element is sewn up with the third felt layer by means of a seam along an edge running along an edge of the felt composite.

17. The felt cover of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first felt form element and the second felt form element is circumferentially sewn up with the first felt layer by means of a seam.

18. The felt cover of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first felt form element and the second felt form element are glued to the first felt layer.

19. The felt cover of claim 16, wherein the second felt layer is sewn up with the first felt layer along a circumferential edge of the felt composite.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In the following, embodiments of the invention are described in detail referring to the attached figures.

[0034] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of a felt composite according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross section through a felt composite according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 3 schematically shows a top view of a felt cover according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0037] FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross section through a felt cover according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0038] FIG. 5 schematically shows a cross section through a felt cover according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0039] The reference signs used in the figures and their meanings are specified in summarizing form in the list of reference signs. As a rule, identical or similar parts are provided with the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a felt composite 10 in top view and in cross section. The distances and relations in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the following figures are purely schematic and not true to scale. The felt composite 10 is depicted as a rectangle but may exhibit any outer form such as round, oval, kidney-shaped, etc.

[0041] The felt composite 10 comprises a lower, first felt layer 12 which is fabricated in one piece and an upper, second felt layer 14 which is fabricated in a plurality of pieces. In FIG. 1, the top side of the second felt layer 14 is illustrated. The felt composite 10 may for example be a carpet or a carpet module. Here, the lower felt layer 12 serves as the underside of the carpet to be laid on a floor, and the upper felt layer 14 serves as a visible topside to be stepped on.

[0042] The upper felt layer 14 comprises a plurality of felt form elements 16a, 16b, which are attached to the lower felt layer 12 in a mosaic-like fashion, covering the same completely. The felt form elements 16a, 16b, which have the same height or thickness, may be of different shapes and/or be fabricated of differently colored felt. In this manner, the felt form elements 16a, 16b are used to create a pattern.

[0043] As an example, the first felt layer 12 and the felt form elements 16a, 16b may be cut out of a felting such as bulk stock.

[0044] The felt form elements 16a, 16b, which form the upper felt layer 14, are connected to the lower felt layer 12 by means of seams 18a, 18b. As an example, FIG. 1 shows two neighboring seams 18a, 18b running parallel to two neighboring edges 20a, 20b of two felt form elements 16a, 16b. In particular, the felt form elements 16a, 16b are not, in the area of the edges 20a, 20b, fixed to the lower felt layer 12 by means of a common seam but rather separately by means of the two seams 18a, 18b. Thus, the felt form elements 16a, 16b may be sewn to the lower felt layer 12 one after the other, which may facilitate the processing of the felt form elements 16a, 16b.

[0045] Furthermore, the felt form elements 16a, 16b are sewn up with the lower felt layer 12 be means of an outer seam 21 which circumferences the felt composite at an outer edge 22. In contrast to the inner seams 18a, 18b, the outer seam 21 is routed across a plurality of felt form elements 16a, 16b. It is, however, also possible that one or more of the inner seams 18a, 18b run across several felt form elements 16a, 16b in several sections.

[0046] The seams 18a, 18b, 21 may be executed in the form of machine seams and/or straight stitch seams.

[0047] Furthermore, one or more of the felt form elements 16a, 16b may be glued to the lower felt layer 12. In particular, a felt form element 16a, 16b may be glued to the lower felt layer in its inner area within the seams 18a, 18b and/or in an edge area between a seam 18a, 18b and a respective edge 20a, 20b.

[0048] For example, the felt composite 10 may be fabricated such that firstly a first felt form element 16a is laid onto the lower felt layer 12, wherein the felt form element 16a may also be provided with glue. Subsequently, the first felt form element 16a may be sewn to the first felt layer 12 by means of one or more inner seams 18a. Furthermore, a second felt form element 16b may be positioned flush against the first felt form element 16a wherein the felt form element 16b may optionally also be provided with glue. After that, the second felt form element 16b may be sewn up with the lower felt layer by means of one or more inner seams 18b. When all felt form elements 16a, 16b have in this manner been sewn up with the lower felt layer, the outer seam 21 may finally be applied.

[0049] Eventually, all felt form elements 16a, 16b may be sewn to the lower felt layer 12 by means of one or more seams 18a, 18b, 21 circumferencing them.

[0050] As FIG. 2 shows, it is not necessary for the felt form elements 16a, 16b, to directly abut one another by way of their edges 20a, 20b. It is also possible that between the edges 20a, 20b, a gap 23 is created which is, however, relatively narrow and has a width of for example less than 10% of the thickness or height of the second felt layer 14.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a felt cover 24 which, just like a single felt composite 10, may be a carpet, a wall covering, a ceiling lining, a curtain, etc. The felt cover 24 is assembled of a plurality of felt composites 10 which are arranged flush next to one another.

[0052] As an example, the felt composites 10 may all have the same size and/or form and be regarded as modules of the felt cover 24. A square felt composite 10 may for example have a size of 40×40 cm, 60×60 cm or 80×80 cm.

[0053] As the felt composites 10 may exhibit different patterns, which may, as described above, be created by the sewing of felt form elements 16a, 16b onto a felt layer 12, the felt cover 24 may be individually collocated.

[0054] As FIG. 4 shows, the felt composites 10 may separate from one another be sewn onto a third felt layer 26 which serves as a common supporting layer. This may be effected analog to the felt form elements 16a, 16b which are sewn onto the first felt layer 12. The associated seam 28 here extends through all three felt layers 14, 12, 26.

[0055] For example, the one or more seams 28 may circle each one of the felt composites 10 at its respective outer edge 22. In particular, in an area in which two felt composites 10 have edges 22 adjacent to each other, a seam 28 each may run along the respective edge 22.

[0056] Furthermore, it is possible that a seam 28 replaces an outer seam 21 and/or runs parallel to an outer seam 21.

[0057] Additionally, the felt composites 10 may also be glued onto the felt layer 26.

[0058] Between the felt composites 10, too, a gap 30 may be formed which may be relatively narrow. As an example, the gap 30 may exhibit a width less than 10% of the height of one of the felt layers 12, 14, 26. It is however also possible that the felt composites 10 directly abut.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through a further felt cover 24 on which, analog to FIG. 4, a felt composite 10 is attached e. g. as a module. It is to be understood that the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be combined, i. e. that in the embodiment of FIG. 5, a plurality of felt composites 10 may be attached, i. e. glued and/or sewn, to the third felt layer 26.

[0060] FIG. 5 also shows that the felt form elements 16a and 16b as well as the first felt layer 12 may be sewn up by seams 28 only, which extend through all three felt layers 14, 12, 26.

[0061] FIG. 5 further shows that further felt form elements 16a′ and 16b′ may be directly attached to the third felt layer 26, for example in the same way in which the felt form elements 16a and 16b are sewn and/or glued onto the first felt layer 12 in FIG. 2. The two felt form elements 16a′, 16b′ form a further multi-element felt layer 32.

[0062] Here, the felt form element 16b′ is sewn up adjacent to the felt composite 10 so that only a narrow gap 30 remains between the felt form element 16b′ and the felt composite 10. This gap 30 exhibits edges 22 of different heights. It is also possible that the felt form element 16b′ directly abuts the second felt layer 12 of the felt composite 10. Thus, the felt form element 16b′ and the felt form element 16a are now on different levels. Nonetheless, there are two seams 21, 28 running essentially parallel to each other and/or parallel to the adjacent edges 22, by which seams the two felt form elements 16a and 16b′ are connected to the third felt layer 26 separately from each other. In particular, the felt form elements 16a, 16b′ are, in this area, fixed to the third felt layer 26 not by a common seam but separate from each other by the two seams 21, 28.

[0063] Complementary, it is to be pointed out that “comprising” does not exclude any other elements or steps and “one” does not exclude any multiplicity. It is further to be pointed out that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as in any way limiting.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0064] 10 felt composite [0065] 12 first felt layer [0066] 14 second felt layer [0067] 16a first felt form element [0068] 16b second felt form element [0069] 16a′ further felt form element [0070] 16b′ further felt form element [0071] 18a first seam [0072] 18b second seam [0073] 20a first edge [0074] 20b second edge [0075] 21 outer seam [0076] 22 outer edge [0077] 23 gap [0078] 24 felt cover [0079] 26 third felt layer [0080] 28 seam [0081] 30 gap [0082] 32 further felt layer