US 6,585,522 B1Granted

Fabric selection system

OwnerAnnamarie Simmonsinventor

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Abstract

A fabric selection system, for allowing a user to visualize an item as if it were fabricated using any of numerous selected fabric samples, comprising a carrier. A graphic representation of the item is imprinted on the carrier, having object lines which include an outline and object lines which depict interior details of the item. The object lines are silver metallic in color and may be heat transferred using metal foil and a die in the shape of the object lines. The outline defines a window which is transparent so that when the carrier is held over one of the selected fabric samples, the selected fabric sample may be viewed through the window so that the item can be visualized in conjunction with that fabric sample. The carrier has a background area outside of the outline which is less than transparent so as to at least partially obscure the selected fabric sample so that the user can focus upon the selected fabric sample in conjunction with the item.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A fabric selection device, for allowing an item for which fabric is to be selected to be visualized in conjunction with a sample of a selected fabric, comprising:

a carrier, the carrier having object lines imprinted thereon for forming a graphic representation of the item, the object lines for defining an outline of the item and also defining interior features within the outline;
the carrier having a window, the window having an upper surface, the window defined by the outline object lines on the upper surface such that the window extends within the outline, the window transparent so that when the carrier is held over the selected fabric said selected fabric is clearly visible through said window, the carrier having no support structure for supporting the selected fabric sample from behind so that the carrier can be suspended directly over any selected fabric sample such that the selected fabric sample can be much larger than the carrier;
and
the carrier having a background defined by the object lines such that the background surrounds the outline, the background is semi-transparent so that when the carrier is held above the selected fabric said selected fabric is at least partially obscured in the background.

1 more element

A fabric selection method, for visualizing an item for which fabric is to be selected as if it were constructed from one of numerous selected fabric samples, using a carrier, comprising the steps of:

providing the selected fabrics;
providing a graphic representation of the item on the carrier using object lines;
providing a transparent window within the object lines, the window having an upper surface;
viewing one of the selected fabrics through the window by holding the carrier over that selected fabric sample without supporting the selected fabric from behind by the carrier or extending any portion of the carrier behind the fabric thereby allowing viewing of a fabric sample which is larger than the carrier through the window;
partially obscuring view of the selected fabric through the carrier outside of the window;
and
viewing another one of the selected fabrics through the window by holding the carrier over that other selected fabric sample.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.