The invention in general pertains to a method and an assembly to enable a person to create an individualised garment comprising a clothing item durably provided with multiple distinct patches.

BACKGROUND

There are many reasons why a person wants to sew or otherwise provides patches on an item of clothing. Primary reason why many youngsters consider sewing patches on their clothes, apart from repairing a hole, is for individualising their (mass produced) garment. Be it modern jean patches or sequin patches on tops or bags proclaiming their loyalty to sports teams or other groups, patches are everywhere and used to create individualised garment.

Patches are readily available as ready-to-use items, can be hand-made, or even ordered to a unique design at various web-shops. Although the latter two options are more suitable to create an individualised garment, they are either very time-consuming or relatively expensive, next to the fact that the quality of the end results depends heavily on the design capabilities of the person creating the patches. Patches have various ways enabling durable connection to an item of clothing. Commonly patches are sewn to the item of clothing. Alternatively, patches are available that can be simply ironed onto an item of clothing, making using of a hot melt adhesive coated on the back of the patch. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a new method enabling a person to create an individualised garment comprising a clothing item durably provided with patches, which method is versatile, flexible regarding the creation process, relatively inexpensive for the person creating the garment and entertaining to perform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet the object of the invention a method has been devised comprising providing a group of multiple distinct (ready-to-use, preformed) patches, each of these patches having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface being provided with a coating of a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive having a melting temperature (typically at least above 60 ^° C, or even above 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 or 90°C), and transferring to the person at a first point in time a first batch of patches, the first batch of patches comprising one or more patches selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches, the person removably connecting the one or more patches of the first batch of patches to the clothing item by positioning each of these patches from the first batch of patches with their back surface on the clothing item, and applying pressure to each of these patches while the temperature of the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive remains below its melting temperature, and then transferring to the person at second point in time after the first point in time a second batch of patches, the second batch of patches comprising one or more patches selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches, optionally rearranging the patches of the first batch of patches on the clothing item by removing them, repositioning them (not excluding that the novel position is no longer on the item of clothing) and reapplying pressure, and then the person removably connecting the one or more patches of the second batch of patches to the clothing item by positioning each of these patches from the second batch of patches with their back surface on the clothing item, and applying pressure to each of these patches while the temperature of the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive remains below its melting temperature, and lastly permanently connecting the removably connected patches of the first and second batch of patches to the clothing item by applying pressure to each of the patches while the temperature of the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is above its melting temperature, and thereafter cooling down the patches such that the temperature of the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is below its melting temperature, thereby creating the individualised garment.

This novel method is based on a unique combination of three essential features. The first feature being the use of a special adhesive that is a hot melt adhesive, so that it can be used to create a durable structural bond, but which is also pressure sensitive such that it can be used (below its melting temperature) to adhere the patch to an item of clothing via a removable connection. Such an adhesive as such is not new (see for example US 5,006,393 or US 5,716,687 for layered options for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, and WO 97/12007, CN102093831, CN103937431 and CN104479587 for homogeneous hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives), but in combination with the next two essential features of the method of the invention it forms an advantageous combination for meeting the object of the present invention.

The second feature of the three essential features is that use is made of a predetermined group of multiple distinct (ready-to-use, mass produced) patches instead of individually created or designed patches. This is counterintuitive for a method that strives for the creating of an individualised garment, but in combination with the other two features still provides for a unique method to create an individualised garment, as will become clear here beneath.

The third feature is the feature of offering the patches not all at once (such as for example via a web-shop offering a free choice of all available patches), but at multiple consecutive points in time, at least two points in time, wherein at each time point only a selection of patches becomes available for the person. So in fact, in the method the availability of the patches is restricted in time and by type. This may seem disadvantageous for the person creating the garment, but in fact, in combination with the other two features enables to meet the object of the invention, as will be explained here beneath.

In practice, a person starts with a basic (mass- produced) item of clothing, for example a standard jeans jacket or shopper-bag. The person may know what patches are available in the group of multiple distinct patches (ready- to-use, typically mass-made and thus inexpensive), but may not know which selection of patches he or she is provided with at the first point in time, or at the next point in time, or even when that next point in time will be. This contributes to the entertaining part of the object of the invention. The provision at consecutive time points may for example be part of a customer loyalty program wherein a customer can buy, is given, or can otherwise obtain a batch of selected patches only after his or her purchases have met certain thresholds or other predetermined requirements. The particular type of hot melt adhesive allows the person to arrange the patches upon receipt on the item of clothing and even connect them, but removably, such that when any follow up batch of patches are obtained, the previously connected patches can be re-arranged such that a new arrangement of the patches of the two (or more) batches can be made, or even some previously connected patches can be arranged so as not to be connected to the item of clothing. It may be not until a person is fully satisfied that all desired/chosen patches are arranged on the item of clothing and connected permanently to this item to create a unique and durable garment. This means that the objects of flexibility and versatility for the method are clearly met. Next to this, since each person that uses the method may be offered different selections of patches at different points in time, it is likely that each creation is a unique creation despite the fact that the patches per se are mass produced beforehand and thus on itself are not unique nor individualised.

It is noted that in the art several types of patches and methods to create unique garments are known, but none of them advantageously combines all features of the present invention.

For example, EP1763438 discloses an adhesive sheet for applying a badge to a garment comprising a backing and an adhesive layer adhered to that backing and a protective layer covering at least part of the adhesive layer, wherein the protective layer has at least one removable cut out to facilitate exposing the adhesive layer, the removable cut out having a perimeter shape approximately matching a perimeter shape of the badge. However, the adhesive is for a permanent (washing machine resistant) connection only, and can be removed only by applying sufficient heat for example through steam.

EP 2309884 and 2309885 disclose a garment system comprising an article of apparel including an inner layer which contacts the wearer when the article of apparel is worn, and an outer layer forming an outer portion of the article of apparel, the outer layer is positioned adjacent to the inner layer such that a surface of the inner layer contacts a surface of the outer layer, the surface of the inner layer and the surface of the outer layer each having a first part of a fastening system; and an attachment element such as a patch with a pair of opposing surfaces that each have a second part of the fastening system, the first part of the fastening system being joinable to the second part of the fastening system to secure the attachment element to the article of apparel and between the inner layer and the outer layer in a variety of possibly locations, and the first part of the fastening system being separable from the second part of the fastening system to separate the attachment element from the article of apparel. The disclosed fastening system is a Velcro-like fastening system that allows multiple consecutive arrangement of the patches, even washing machine proof depending on the type of Velcro, but which in each case allows removal of the patches by hand.

US 2016/0128405 discloses a removable and reusable fabric patch that contains customizable graphic designs. Specifically, the patent disclosure provides a fabric patch having a decal or ornamental design. The product can be combined into sets, units of which can be arranged or fitted together in a variety of ways in a do- it-yourself (DIY) manner or can be sold individually in an a-la-carte fashion. Certain embodiments may compose universal puzzles for creating designs, mosaics, and other artistic expressions. Patches can be applied to, for example, clothing, backpacks and the like for decorative purposes to suit the users' aesthetic needs. The disclosed customisable garment patch as described has at least a first layer, the first layer being a printed graphical layer, a second layer attached to the first layer being a fabric substrate layer, the first layer attached to the second layer by sublimation printing, an adhesive applied to the second layer, the adhesive capable of connecting the garment patch to a surface, wherein the adhesive is a water soluble glue. This means that the connection is not permanent in the sense of the present invention.

The present invention also pertains to a method of providing to a person desirous to create an individualised garment comprising a clothing item durably provided with patches, the method comprising providing a group of multiple distinct patches, each of these patches having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface being provided with a coating of a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive having a melting temperature, transferring to the person at a first point in time a first batch of patches, the first batch of patches consisting of one or more patches selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches, transferring to the person at second point in time after the first point in time a second batch of patches, the second batch of patches consisting of one or more patches selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches, optionally transferring to the person at a third point in time after the second point in time a third batch of patches, the third batch of patches consisting of one or more patches selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches, wherein the third step is optionally repeated n times, n being a natural number.

The present invention also pertains to an assembly of packaged batches of patches, wherein each one of said packaged batches comprises one or more patches from a group of multiple distinct patches, wherein each patch of said group of multiple distinct patches having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface being provided with a coating of a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive having a melting temperature.

Accordingly, the packaged batches of said assembly of packaged batches of patches can be provided to a person at multiple consecutive points in time, at least two points in time, wherein at each time point only a selection of patches becomes available for the person. So in fact, in the assembly of packaged batches, the availability of the patches is restricted in time and by type. In an embodiment, each one of said packaged batch is enclosed in a packaging, wherein the packaging is configured to hide or conceal at least the front surface of the patches inside the packaging, preferably wherein the packaging is configured to hide or conceal the patches inside the packaging. It is noted that packaging material is preferably translucent or opaque. Accordingly, the article is not visible through the packaging material. The person may know what patches are available in the group of multiple distinct patches (ready-to-use, typically mass- made and thus inexpensive), but may not know which selection of patches is comprised in a first packed batch he or she is provided with at the first point in time, or which selection of patches is comprised in a second packed batch he or she is provided with at the next point in time, or even when that next point in time will be. This contributes to the entertaining part of the object of the invention. The provision one or more of said packaged batches at consecutive time points may for example be part of a customer loyalty program wherein a customer can buy, is given, or can otherwise obtain a packaged batch of selected patches only after his or her purchases have met certain thresholds or other predetermined requirements.

The particular type of hot melt adhesive allows the person to arrange the patches upon receipt on an item of clothing and even connect them, but removably, such that when any follow up packaged batch of patches are obtained, the previously connected patches can be re-arranged such that a new arrangement of the patches of the two (or more) batches can be made, as described above.

In an embodiment, the packaging comprises packaging materials which are substantially and/or fully biodegradable. This reduces the impact of the thrown away packaging material on the environment.

In an embodiment, the group of multiple distinct patches comprises multiple separate ranges of patches, each range corresponding to a distinct theme, preferably wherein the front surface of each patch of a range of patches comprises an image, illustration or symbol of said distinct theme.

In an embodiment, the one or more patches in a specific packaged batch are selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches using a random selection process.

In an embodiment, the one or more patches in a specific packaged batch are selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches using a predetermined selection criterion.

In an embodiment, the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is a homogenous adhesive.

In an embodiment, the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is a layered adhesive comprising distinct layers. In an embodiment, the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is a polyester based adhesive.

In an embodiment, the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive has a melting temperature above 95 ^° C, preferably above 100 ^° C, more preferably above 120 ^° C.

DEFINITIONS

A garment is an item of clothing, or accessory worn as if an item of clothing, such as for example a jacket, coat, shirt, sweater, pair of trousers, hat, shoe, bag, purse, rucksack, scarf, gloves, belt etc.

A patch is a piece of cloth or cloth-like material for connecting to the surface of a garment as an ornament or insignia.

A hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is an adhesive which has a melting temperature and thus can be fused above its melting temperature to form a (durable) structural bond, but which at a temperature below its melting temperature is tacky to be able and act as a non- structural adhesive that adheres to a surface after applying (light) pressure, of. the adhesive on the back of a regular sticker.

The melting temperature of a hot melt adhesive is the temperature above which the adhesive becomes a fluid to be able and wet a surface of an object or item to be adhered.

To individualise is to adapt to the wishes of an individual to create a unique item.

A natural number is a positive whole number, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.

A permanent connection of a patch to an item of clothing, as opposed to a removable connection, is a connection that can withstand common machine washing (typically between 15 and 90°C) and machine drying, as well as a pulling force by hand.

A removable connection of a patch to an item of clothing, as opposed to a permanent connection, is a connection that can be overcome by applying a pulling force by hand and/or cannot withstand common machine washing and machine drying.

A range of items is a set of different items of the same general type, e.g. a set of patches with a cars theme vs a set of patches with a cities theme, a patriotic theme, a sports theme, a celebrities theme etc.

A homogeneous material is a material that has uniform composition and properties throughout on a supramolecular scale, in particular on a micrometre scale.

A layered material is a material that comprises several layers of distinct material lying on top of each other. Each layer may be continuous or may be discontinuous such as for example provided with holes or other discontinuities. FURTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, before permanently connecting the removably connected patches to the clothing item, the method comprises transferring to the person a third point in time after the second point in time a third batch of patches, the third batch of patches comprising one or more patches selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches, optionally rearranging the patches removably connected to the clothing item by removing them, repositioning them and reapplying pressure, the person removably connecting the one or more patches of the third batch of patches to the clothing item by positioning each of the patches from the third batch of patches with their back surface on the clothing item, and applying pressure to each of these patches while the temperature of the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive remains below its melting temperature .

In still a further embodiment of this, the steps of 1) transferring a third batch of patches at third point in time, 2) removably connecting one or more patches thereof to the clothing item, and 3) optionally re arranging the patches removably connected before receiving the third batch of patches, are repeated n times, n being natural number, before all patches removably connected to the clothing item are permanently connected to this clothing item. In other words, in this embodiment it is foreseen that the person receives different batches of patches at least in 4 consecutive points in time to step- wise create the garment.

In another embodiment the group of multiple distinct patches comprises multiple separate ranges of patches, each range corresponding to a distinct theme. This embodiment contributes further to the object of the invention by supporting in particular the versatility and entertainment factor of the method. Also, it supports the path towards a truly individualised garment. In a further embodiment of this, patches from a first range and a second or further range are transferred to the person in a consecutive order, so not mixed in a first batch.

In yet another embodiment the one or more patches are selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches using a random selection process. In the alternative the one or more patches are selected from the said group of multiple distinct patches using a predetermined selection criterion. This criterion may for example depend on wishes from the person creating the garment or, in case the method is part of a customer loyalty program, a criterion that supports additional purchases by the person in order to obtain a particular patch, or type of patch.

In again another embodiment the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is a homogenous adhesive. This way it is less complex to produce the patches since the adhesive can be coated as a single layer on the back of the patches. In an alternative embodiment the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is a layered adhesive comprising distinct layers. Although more difficult to produce, this way the adherence properties below and above the melting temperature of the adhesive can be better controlled and customised towards properties of a particular substrate (i.e. a type of clothing item) or desired connection properties.

In still another embodiment the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is a polyester based adhesive. Polyester is widely used for textile patches and thus, using a polyester adhesive is advantageous for recycling purposes.

In yet another embodiment the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive has a melting temperature above 95 ^° C, or even above 100°C or above 120°C. A higher melting temperature is advantageous for the resistance of the permanent connection against de-connecting during machine washing or drying or other processes involving high temperatures such as for example exposure to sunlight.

The invention will now be further explained using the following example. EXAMPLE

In this example the method according to the invention is embedded in a so-called customer loyalty program of a retail super market. The program offers customers the option to acquire patches for creating individualised garments, in particular patches for connecting to various textile-based clothing items such as shirts, jackets and bags. The patches are part of a group of multiple distinct patches, each of these patches having a front (ornamental) surface and a back surface provided with a coating of a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive having a melting temperature of 120°, for connecting the patch to the item of clothing. In this case, the person uses his own T-shirt 1, see figure 1, as a basis for creating the garment.

The patches are divided in five ranges, each having a different theme, in this case Sports, Cars, Mediaeval insignia, Cities and Celebrities). Upon a particular purchase in the retail shop, and/or upon a particular amount of money spend in the shop, the person is able to obtain a batch of patches, in this case randomly selected out of the complete group of patches as available in the program.

At a first point in time a first batch of patches of five patches, patches 3 and 4 of the Cities and Celebrities range respectively and patches 5, 6 and 6 (= same patch as patch 6) of the Insignia range, randomly selected from the complete group of patches are obtained by the person desiring to create a unique T-shirt 1. Of these patches, insignia patches 5, 6 and 6' are removably adhered to the T-shirt 1 as schematically depicted in figure 1. Patches 3 and 4 are left unused. To arrive at the removable connection, the patches 5, 6 and 6' are each positioned with their back surface (after removing a protective paper liner) on the T-shirt 1, where after the person applies a light pressure to the patches. The fact that the hot melt adhesive is pressure sensitive makes sure that the patches adhere to the T-shirt even when connecting at room temperature an only applying hand pressure. The obtained connection however can be easily overcome by actuating a (light) pulling force on each of the patches, for example for repositioning if desired.

Then, at a second point in time, one week after the first point in time, the person obtains a second batch of patches 7, 8 and 9, the batches being randomly selected from the complete group of patches. Patch 7 is another patch of the Insignia range, whereas patches 8 and 9 are of the Sports and Celebrities range respectively. After reviewing the newly obtained patches, the person decides to use patch 7 for his T-shirt, and to make a novel arrangement of the patches obtained so far. Patch 5 remains connected to the T-shirt 1 at the same position as before, but patches 6 and 6' are removed by pulling them of the T- shirt 1. These patches are now positioned at another location on the T-shirt, together with newly obtained patch 7. Patches 8 and 9 remain unused. The patches 6, 6' and 7 are connected to the T-shirt by applying a light pressure to the patches. This results in the T-shirt as desired at this point in time by the person.

Although the person can obtain other patches through the customer loyalty program, it is decided that the T-shirt as depicted in figure 2 meets the desired requirements for the individualised garment. Therefore, the person now initiates permanent connection of the patches 5, 6, 6' and 7 to the T-shirt. For this, the patches are connected by regular ironing, to induce pressure to each of the patches while the temperature of the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is above its melting temperature. After cooling down the T-shirt and patches to room temperature, the patches are permanently connected to the T-shirt, i.e. the T-shirt can be machine washed and dried without the patches de-connecting. This way a unique, individualised garment is created. Unused patches 3, 4, 8 and 9 are left for other/later use or simply put into a collection.

At the same time during application of the method as described here above, the person may acquire so-called (standard) completers at the retail store, such as for example a particular garment not regularly available in any shops, or a collector's album for collecting all patches of all ranges, for example for in-house display purposes. Such a completer typically is provided with pre-printed pictures of (part of the range) the patches that can be collected, such that a collector can easily review whether he or she has already collected a complete set of patches, such a complete set corresponding for example to all patches available, or a predetermined sub-selection of these patches, for example all patches belonging to a certain range.