Description of Related Art Several systems and methods for transferring a design to a fabric9 such as to a T-shirt, are known in the art. In addition, it is known to create a three-dimensional effect on fabric by applying an inverse image with"puff'ink to the outside of the fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for transferring an image to a fabric.

It is an additional object to provide such a system and method for conferring a three- dimensional effect to the fabric.

It is a further object to provide such a system and method that is applied from the inside of the fabric.

These objects and others are attained by the present invention, a system and method for transferring an image to a fabric. The method comprises the steps of providing a transfer image that is affixed to a first side of a transfer sheet. The transfer image comprises a composition that is expandable upon an application of heat, and the transfer sheet comprises a composition that is adherable to fabric upon an application of heat.

The outside surface of the fabric is positioned adjacent a compressible surface, and the transfer sheet's first side is positioned adjacent an inside surface of the fabric.

A generally rigid heat-conducting platen is heated to a temperature sufficient to expand the transfer image and also to adhere the transfer sheet to the fabric's inside surface.

Pressure is applied to the platen against a second side of the transfer sheet for a predetermined time, the second side being opposite the first side. The pressure, heat, and time together are sufficient to effect a raised image on the fabric's outside surface.

The system of the present invention comprises a transfer sheet as described above that includes a composition adherable to fabric upon an application of heat. Means, such as printing means, are included for affixing a transfer image as described above to the first side of the transfer sheet.

A compressible surface such as foam or rubber supports the outside surface of the fabric. Means for applying pressure and heat to the second side of the transfer sheet are also included, wherein the heat and pressure provided are sufficient to expand the transfer image and adhere the transfer sheet to the fabric inside surface, so that the expanded transfer image effects a raised image on the fabric outside surface.

The invention also provides decorated fabric that comprises a piece of fabric and a transfer sheet that is affixed to an inside surface of the fabric piece. A transfer image positioned between the transfer sheet and the fabric piece comprises a composition that has been caused to expand upon an application of heat. The expanded transfer image causes a raised image to appear on an outside surface of the fabric piece.

The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system of the present invention for transferring a raised image to a fabric.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective illustration of a T-shirt created by the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description of the preferred embodiments of the system and method of the present invention will now be presented with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In order to produce a three-dimensional image on a fabric 10, such as may be desired on a T-shirt, a transfer sheet 20 having a transfer image 30 applied thereto is made. In a preferred embodiment the transfer sheet 20 may comprise a nonwoven fusible material that has been die cut to a size commensurate with the image 30 desired to be transferred. In alternate embodiment the transfer sheet 20 may comprise a fabric having adhesive applied

to a first side 21, or a polymeric material, such as vinyl, an acrylic, or a plastic, also having adhesive applied to the first side 21.

The transfer image 30 is preferably printed on the first side 21 of the transfer sheet 20 with a composition that is expandable upon an application of heat. Such a composition in a preferred embodiment comprises what is known in the art as"puff ink,"although other compositions such as water-base ink or plastisol could also be used. A powder adhesive or a printable adhesive may also be added to the composition.

The fabric's outside surface 11 is positioned adjacent a compressible surface 40, such as, but not intended to be limited to, a foam or rubber backing material. Such a surface 40 may comprise a pad such as is typically used in a heat transfer machine.

The first side 21 of the transfer sheet 20, on which is affixed the transfer image 30, is positioned adjacent the inside surface 12 of the fabric. A generally rigid heat-conducting platen 50, typically made of a metal such as steel, is heated to a temperature sufficient to activate the transfer image composition and to adhere the transfer sheet 20 to the fabric 40.

The platen 50 is then applied under pressure to the second side 22 of the transfer sheet 20 for a predetermined time that is sufficient, along with the predetermined temperature and pressure, to effect a raised image on the fabric's outside surface 11. The transfer sheet 20 remains affixed to the fabric 10.

An exemplary range of parameters for use with the present invention comprises a platen temperature between 150 and 450 °F, an application pressure between 20 and 120 psi, and a duration of 3 to 60 seconds. These values are not intended as limitations, however, and those of skill in the art will recognize that departures may be made from these values, for

example, when applying a transfer to different material. A range of values should be chosen that will achieve complete transfer without scorching the fabric 10.

An exemplary decorated T-shirt 60 made by the system and method of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the image 61 can be seen to comprise a raised, three-dimensional effect caused by the application of a transfer sheet 20 to the inside surface 62 of the T-shirt 60, the transfer sheet 20 having applied thereto and positioned against the T-shirt 60 an image-generating design comprising an expandable composition such as"puff ink"30.

It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that additional embodiments may be contemplated, including the use of similar compositions and fabrics to achieve a raised effect.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.