PROTECTIVE CLOTH AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING IT

Abstract

 A protective cloth (1), in particular for use in painting works, in repair shops, building works, hobbies, agriculture, comprising:
a sheet (2) made of a flexible material having an extension that is substantially rectangular or square;
two tapes (3, 13) made of a flexible material which extend inside corresponding sleeves (4, 14) obtained from opposite flaps (5, 15) of the sheet (2), the tapes (3, 13) being heat-welded inside the corresponding sleeves (4, 14).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective cloth and a method for manufacturing it.

[0002] In particular, the protective cloth proposed herein can be used in light or heavy building works, painting works, for repairing vehicles, hobbies, agriculture, etc. and is often indicated by the expression "multi-purpose cloth".

[0003] Protective cloths available on the market are generally rectangular or square and have two types of packaging: flat or in a roll.

[0004] In particular, in the case of flat packaging, the cloth is folded alternatively along a direction which is parallel to the long sides and to the short sides of the rectangle.

[0005] Among the different folding methods, patent EP 2305587 in the name of the Applicant, proposes a method comprising the steps of:

• incising a tubular sheet of flexible material according to a substantially longitudinal and asymmetric cutting line so as to define opening flaps of the sheet;
• flattening the tubular sheet;
• folding the tubular sheet parallel to the cutting line at least three consecutive times so that, at the end of each fold, the opening flaps are external, i.e. accessible to a user.

[0006] Thanks to this folding method, the user grasps the (accessible) opening flaps and unfolds the cloth very quickly.

[0007] When the cloth is used to protect objects (e.g. pieces of furniture, household appliances, etc.) care must be taken to fix it to them.

[0008] In fact, even if the cloth is usually made of an electrostatically charged material, the adhesion to the objects is not guaranteed because of the lightness of the material. It could happen that the cloth moves during the works and does not effectively perform its protective function.

[0009] For that purpose, adhesive tape is sometimes applied in different points of the cloth.

[0010] However, this solution has a series of disadvantages. Above all, the adhesive tape can leave residual glue on the underlying object, which cannot always be removed and is potentially harmful on delicate surfaces. Furthermore, the user takes some minutes to fix the cloth in the "critical" points. Finally, it may happen that during the work, traction is inadvertently exerted on the cloth that can detach the adhesive tape.

[0011] In this context, the technical task underpinning the present invention is to provide a protective cloth and a method for manufacturing it, which obviates the drawbacks of the prior art as cited above.

[0012] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protective cloth that can be anchored to the objects to be protected quickly and simply with respect to known solutions.

[0013] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a protective cloth that, during use, is able to protect objects more effectively with respect to known solutions.

[0014] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a protective cloth that, in use, protects objects without damaging them.

[0015] The technical task stated and the specified aims are substantially reached by a protective cloth, in particular for use in painting works, repair shops, building works, hobbies, agriculture, comprising:

• a sheet of flexible material having an extension that is substantially rectangular or square, said sheet being configurable at least in a first state in which it is folded and the protective cloth is not in use, and in a second state in which the protective cloth is deployed and ready for use,

characterised in that it comprises:

• two tapes made of a flexible material which extend inside corresponding sleeves obtained from opposite flaps of said sheet;
• fixing means for partially fixing each of said tapes inside the corresponding sleeve.

[0016] Preferably, the opposite flaps of the sheet are folded and fixed at least partially to the remaining part of the sheet so as to obtain the sleeves. Preferably, each of the opposite flaps of the sheet is folded and fixed to the remaining part of the sheet for the whole extension of the flap.

[0017] In accordance with one embodiment, the fixing means consists of a heat-welding which joins each tape to the corresponding flap.

[0018] In accordance with another embodiment, the fixing means consists of a seam which joins each tape to the corresponding flap.

[0019] In accordance with another embodiment, the fixing means comprises an adhesive material.

[0020] In accordance with another embodiment, the fixing means comprises one or more metal staples.

[0021] Preferably, each of the tapes has an extension which is greater than or equal to the length of the sleeve in which it is inserted.

[0022] Alternatively, each of the tapes has an extension which is smaller than the length of the sleeve in which it is inserted.

[0023] For example, each of the tapes is made of a textile or of a plastic material. Preferably, each of the tapes consists of a strip, for example an elastic or non-elastic strip.

[0024] Preferably, the sheet is made of a plastic material or a textile material, or paper.

[0025] The technical task stated and the specified aims are substantially reached by a method for manufacturing a protective cloth starting from a sheet of a flexible material incised according to a substantially longitudinal and asymmetric cutting line that separates opposite flaps of the sheet, comprising the steps of:

• folding each of the flaps and fixing it to the remaining part of the sheet so as to obtain a corresponding sleeve;
• inserting in each sleeve a tape made of a flexible material;
• partially fixing each tape inside the corresponding sleeve.

[0026] In accordance with one embodiment, the step of partially fixing each tape inside the corresponding sleeve consists of heat-welding the tape to the folded flap which defines the sleeve.

[0027] In accordance with another embodiment, the step of partially fixing each tape inside the corresponding sleeve consists of sewing the tape to the folded flap which defines the sleeve.

[0028] In accordance with another embodiment, the step of partially fixing each tape inside the corresponding sleeve consists of gluing the tape to the folded flap which defines the sleeve.

[0029] In accordance with another embodiment, the step of partially fixing each tape inside the corresponding sleeve consists of stapling the tape to the folded flap which defines the sleeve.

[0030] Preferably, the method further comprises a step of folding the sheet parallel to the cutting line for at least three consecutive times so that, at the end of each fold, the opposite flaps of the sheet are external, i.e. accessible to a user.

[0031] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a protective cloth and method thereof for manufacturing it, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• figure 1 illustrates a protective cloth, according to the present invention, in a perspective view;
• figure 2 illustrates the protective cloth of figure 1, (in which the tapes have been removed) in a perspective view;
• figure 3 illustrates a part (tape, with the flap in broken lines for clarity reasons) of the protective cloth of figure 1, in a perspective view;
• figure 4 illustrates an incised tubular sheet, in a perspective view;
• figure 5 illustrates the tubular sheet of figure 4, in a view from above;
• figure 6 illustrates the roll obtained by rolling up the cloth of figure 1, in a perspective view.

[0032] With reference to the figures, number 1 is used to indicate a protective cloth, in particular for use in painting works, in repair shops, in building works, hobbies or agriculture.

[0033] The cloth 1 comprises a sheet 2 made of a flexible material, in particular plastic material.

[0034] The sheet 2 is preferably made of an electrostatically charged material so that it adheres easily to a surface to be protected.

[0035] In accordance with one embodiment, the sheet 2 is made of a waterproof and biodegradable plastic material.

[0036] In accordance with a further embodiment, the sheet 2 is made of textile or paper.

[0037] Preferably, the sheet 2 has natural or artificially perfumed essences added to it.

[0038] The sheet 2 may be transparent or coloured.

[0039] The sheet 2 has a substantially rectangular or square extension.

[0040] For example, in the embodiment illustrated herein, the sheet has a rectangular extension with two long sides 2a, 2b and two short sides 2c, 2d.

[0041] The rectangular sheet 2 can be configured at least in:

• a first state in which it is folded and the cloth 1 is not in use;
• a second state in which it is deployed and the cloth 1 is ready for use.

[0042] The protective cloth 1 comprises two tapes 3, 13 made of a flexible material which extend inside corresponding sleeves 4, 14 obtained from opposite flaps 5, 15 of the sheet 2.

[0043] For example, for a rectangular sheet, such opposite flaps 5, 15 of the sheet 2 are those at the long sides 2a, 2b of the sheet 2.

[0044] Preferably, each sleeve 4, 14 is obtained by folding a flap 5, 15 which is fixed at least partially to the remaining part of the sheet 2.

[0045] Preferably, each of the two opposite flaps 5, 15 is folded and fixed to the remaining part of the sheet 2 for the whole extension thereof. Alternatively, each of the two opposite flaps 5, 15 is folded and fixed to the remaining part of the sheet 2 only in some points, e.g. equidistant. Preferably, each tape 3, 13 has an extension which is greater than or equal to the length of the sleeve 4, 14 in which it is inserted.

[0046] Alternatively, each tape 3, 13 has an extension which is smaller than the length of the sleeve 4, 14 in which it is inserted.

[0047] Figure 1 shows the tapes 3, 13 exiting partially from the related sleeves 4, 14 (either because they have an extension which is larger than the sleeves 4, 14 or because they have already been pulled, as will be explained below).

[0048] The tapes 3, 13 have accessible ends as the sleeves 4, 14 are open tubes.

[0049] For example, figure 3 shows a flap 5 that defines a sleeve 4 and the related tape 3 with the accessible ends 3a, 3b.

[0050] In particular, the tapes 3, 13 are made of textile or of plastic.

[0051] Preferably, the tapes 3, 13 consist of strips. For example, such strips are elastic or non-elastic.

[0052] Each tape 3, 13 is fixed partially inside the corresponding sleeve 4, 14. Preferably, such fixing consists of a heat-welding which joins each tape 3, 13 to the corresponding flap 5, 15.

[0053] Alternatively, such fixing consists of a seam.

[0054] In accordance with another embodiment, such fixing is obtained with adhesive material, e.g. glue.

[0055] Another possibility envisages that such fixing takes place through the application of one or more metal staples (not shown) which join each tape 3, 13 to the corresponding flap 5, 15.

[0056] Preferably, the sheet 2 has weakening lines (or pre-incision lines) parallel to two of its sides (e.g. parallel to the short sides 2c, 2d of a rectangular sheet). In this way, the sheet 2 can be torn along such weakening lines to obtain a plurality of cloths of smaller sizes. In accordance with one embodiment, not shown, in each sleeve 4, 14 there are two tapes.

[0057] In particular, in a first sleeve 4 two tapes are housed, each of which is located at one of the ends of the first sleeve 4. Likewise, in a second sleeve 14 two more tapes are housed, each of which is located at one of the ends of the second sleeve 14.

[0058] Each of such tapes is fixed inside the corresponding sleeve 4, 14 with one of the fixing methods indicated above.

[0059] Therefore, in this embodiment, the tapes do not extend for the entire length of the corresponding sleeves, but for each sleeve there are two tapes.

[0060] The method for manufacturing a protective cloth, according to the present invention, is described below.

[0061] For example, it starts with a sheet 2 of a flexible material having a tubular shape, which is incised according to a substantially longitudinal and asymmetric cutting line 6 so as to separate the opposite flaps 5, 15 of the sheet 2 (see figures 4 and 5).

[0062] The incised tubular sheet 2 therefore becomes a rectangular or square sheet.

[0063] Once incised or prior to incision, the sheet 2 is flattened so that an upper layer and a lower layer are pressed onto one another.

[0064] For example, the pressing is obtained by making the sheet 2 pass through a series of rollers.

[0065] Each of the opposite flaps 5, 15 of the sheet 2 is folded and fixed to the remaining part of the sheet 2 so as to obtain corresponding sleeves 4, 14. In each sleeve 4, 14 a tape 3, 13 is inserted which is partially fixed to the inside of the corresponding sleeve 4, 14.

[0066] For example, each tape 3, 13 is heat-welded to the corresponding flap 5, 15.

[0067] Alternatively, each tape 3, 13 is sewed or glued to the corresponding flap 5, 15.

[0068] In accordance with a further alternative, each tape 3, 13 is stapled to the corresponding flap 5, 15.

[0069] Subsequently, the sheet 2 is folded parallel with respect to the cutting line 6 for at least three consecutive times.

[0070] The folding steps are performed in accordance with the European patent EP 2305587 in the name of the Applicant.

[0071] In this way, after each fold, the flaps 5, 15 and the tapes 3, 13 are external, i.e. accessible to a user.

[0072] At the end of the folding steps, the sheet 2 is configured in the first state. According to one embodiment, the sheet 2 configured in the first state is rolled so that the protective cloth 1 is made available in the form of a roll 7 (see figure 6).

[0073] When the user needs to use the cloth 1 he/she first unrolls the roll 7 to its full length. After this, the user opens the sheet 2 by grasping the opposite flaps 5, 15 at the cutting line 6. The sheet 2 is thus easily deployed and brought into the second state, in which the cloth 1 is ready for use.

[0074] Once the sheet 2 has been placed on the objects to be covered, the user grasps the tapes 3, 13 by their ends and pulls them so as to crumple the sheet 2 and be able to shape it better to fit the object.

[0075] The ends of the tapes 3, 13 near to each other can be connected together or to the underlying object so as to fix the cloth 1 effectively.

[0076] In accordance with another embodiment, instead of starting from a tubular sheet that is to be incised, it is possible to start from a "one-fold" sheet, i.e. a tube which has already been cut longitudinally so that the opposite flaps 5, 15 of the sheet 2 have already been separated. The rest of the method is identical to that described above for the tubular sheet.

[0077] The characteristics of the protective cloth and method for manufacturing it, according to the present invention, are clear, as are the advantages.

[0078] In particular, the proposed cloth can be applied to objects to be protected quickly and rapidly thanks to the presence of the tapes.

[0079] Once the works have finished, the cloth is easily removed by untying the tapes, hence preventing any damage to the objects (unlike with glues and adhesives).

Claims

1. Protective cloth (1), in particular for use in painting works, vehicle workshops, building works, hobbies, agriculture, comprising:

a sheet (2) made of a flexible material having an extension that is substantially rectangular or square, said sheet (2) being configurable at least in a first state in which it is folded and the protective cloth (1) is not in use, and in a second state in which the protective cloth (1) is deployed and ready for use,

characterised in that it comprises:

two tapes (3, 13) made of a flexible material which extend inside corresponding sleeves (4, 14) obtained from opposite flaps (5, 15) of said sheet (2);

fixing means for partially fixing each of said tapes (3, 13) inside the corresponding sleeve (4, 14).

2. Protective cloth (1) according to claim 1, wherein said opposite flaps (5, 15) of the sheet (2) are folded and fixed at least partially to the remaining part of the sheet (2) so as to obtain said sleeves (4, 14).

3. Protective cloth (1) according to claim 2, wherein each of said opposite flaps (5, 15) of the sheet (2) is folded and fixed to the remaining part of the sheet (2) for the whole extension of the flap (5, 15).

4. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fixing means consist of a heat-welding which joins each tape (3, 13) to the corresponding flap (5, 15).

5. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of claims from 1 to 3, wherein said fixing means consist of a seam which joins each tape (3, 13) to the corresponding flap (5, 15).

6. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of claims from 1 to 3, wherein said fixing means comprise adhesive material.

7. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of claims from 1 to 3, wherein said fixing means comprise one or more metal staples.

8. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said tapes (3, 13) has an extension greater than or equal to the length of the sleeve (4, 14) in which it is inserted.

9. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said tapes (3, 13) has an extension smaller than the length of the sleeve (4, 14) in which it is inserted.

10. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said tapes (3, 13) is made of a textile or of a plastic material.

11. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of claims from 1 to 10, wherein each of said tapes (3, 13) consists of a strip.

12. Protective cloth (1) according to claim 11, wherein each of said tapes (3, 13) consists of an elastic strip.

13. Protective cloth (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sheet (2) is made of a plastic material or a textile material, or paper.

14. Method for manufacturing a protective cloth (1) starting from a sheet (2) made of a flexible material incised according to a cutting line (6) that is substantially longitudinal and asymmetric which separates opposite flaps (5, 15) of the sheet (2), comprising the steps of:

folding each of said flaps (5, 15) and fixing it to the remaining part of the sheet (2) so as to obtain a corresponding sleeve (4, 14);

inserting in each sleeve (4, 14) a tape (3, 13) made of a flexible material;

partially fixing each tape (3, 13) inside the corresponding sleeve (4, 14).

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the step of partially fixing each tape (3, 13) inside the corresponding sleeve (4, 14) consists in heat-welding the tape (3, 13) to the folded flap (5, 15) which defines the sleeve (4, 14).

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein the step of partially fixing each tape (3, 13) inside the corresponding sleeve (4, 14) consists in sewing the tape (3, 13) to the folded flap (5, 15) which defines the sleeve (4, 14).

17. Method according to claim 14, wherein the step of partially fixing each tape (3, 13) inside the corresponding sleeve (4, 14) consists in gluing the tape (3, 13) to the folded flap (5, 15) which defines the sleeve (4, 14).

18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the step of partially fixing each tape (3, 13) inside the corresponding sleeve (4, 14) consists in stapling the tape (3, 13) to the folded flap (5, 15) which defines the sleeve (4, 14).

19. Method according to any one of claims from 14 to 18, further comprising a step of folding the sheet (2) parallel with respect to said cutting line (6) for at least three consecutive times in such a way that on completing each fold said opposite flaps (5, 15) of the sheet (2) are external, i.e. accessible to a user.

Drawing