Article with fabric-backed decorative element and method of fabricating the same

Abstract

An article has a fabric-backed decorative element. The invention provides a method including the steps of: (a) forming a decorative element by attaching a material to at least one section of fabric; (b) placing the decorative element in a mold with the decorative element facing the inner surface of the mold; (c) adding body material that forms the body of the article to the mold over the decorative element; (d) heating the mold to form the body of the article from the body material and to permanently connect the decorative element to the body; and (e) cooling the article. The invention also provides a method including the steps of (a) forming a decorative element by attaching a material to at least one section of fabric; (b) providing an article having a body; and (c) attaching the decorative element to the body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.