Decorative heat-sealable pocket
A decorative pocket applique with a graphical element that can be heat-applied to most any garment to create a functional pocket with aesthetic value. The applique is made of 100% polyester fabric woven or knit which is dye-sublimated-printed to create an exterior decorative image or logo. The applique interior has a perimeter made of a thermoplastic adhesive consisting of either nylon, polyester or some combination thereof that is used to seal a folded top lip or edge of the intended pocket to itself and the remaining perimeter adhesive to a piece of apparel or garment.
1. A method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' that can be heat-applied to any garment or textile, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a fabric blank substantially comprising synthetic polyester;
printing a decorative graphic on one side of said fabric blank by dye sublimation printing;
cutting said fabric blank around said decorative element in a geometric pocket shape having an extending top margin;
coating a lower laminating frame around said cut fabric blank underlying said cut fabric blank with a marginal area outside said decorative graphic, and beneath said extending top margin, leaving said top margin uncoated;
folding said top margin underneath said lower laminating frame; and
thermally fusing said thermal pocket applique' to a garment around three contiguous sides via said coated lower laminating frame leaving said folded top margin open in an open-pocket configuration.
2. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 1 , wherein said extending top margin comprises a rectangular margin.
3. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 2 , wherein a width of said geometric pocket shape exceeds a width of said rectangular margin.
4. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 2 , wherein said rectangular margin has a height within a range of from 1.0 cm to 1.6 cm.
5. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 3 , wherein said rectangular margin has a width of approximately 8.5 cm.
6. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 2 , wherein said step of obtaining a fabric blank further comprises obtaining a 100% polyester blank.
7. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 6 , wherein said step of printing comprises dye sublimation printing.
8. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 7 , wherein said step of dye sublimation printing comprises printing a plurality of colors in a plurality of passes.
9. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 1 , wherein said step of cutting a fabric blank comprises cutting around said decorative element in a geometric pocket shape consisting of any one from among the group of a pentagon, hexagon, rectangle, and crest.
10. The method of manufacturing a thermal pocket applique' according to claim 1 , wherein said top margin has a height within a range of from 1.0 cm to 1.6 cm.
11. A method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique′, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a blank of material;
printing a decorative graphic element on one side of said blank; cutting the blank around decorative graphic element in a predetermined cut pattern comprising a geometric pocket shape having a top, bottom and sides, with a margin extended upward above the top of said geometric pocket shape;
coating a defined subarea of said geometric pocket shape on a side opposite said printed side with a thermoplastic adhesive, said defined subarea comprising a marginal ring around said geometric pocket shape;
applying the decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' to a garment by placing the applique' atop the garment with the margin folded underneath so that it underlies the marginal ring below the margin and the adhesive coated thereon, and heat-sealing.
12. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 11 , wherein said margin comprises a rectangular margin.
13. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 12 , wherein a width of said geometric pocket shape exceeds a width of said rectangular margin.
14. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 12 , wherein said rectangular margin has a height within a range of from 1.0 cm to 1.6 cm.
15. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 14 wherein said rectangular margin has a width of approximately 8.5 cm.
16. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 12 , wherein said step of obtaining a blank further comprises obtaining a 100% polyester.
17. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 16 , wherein said step of printing comprises dye sublimation printing.
18. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 17 , wherein said step of dye sublimation printing comprises printing a plurality of colors in a plurality of passes.
19. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 11 , wherein said step of cutting the blank comprises cutting around said decorative element in said geometric pocket shape consisting of any one from among the group of a pentagon, hexagon, rectangle, and crest.
20. The method of forming a decorative heat-sealable pocket applique' according to claim 11 , wherein said rectangular margin has a height within a range of from 1.0 cm to 1.6 cm.