The Gem Group, Inc.

Frank J Papa

Agnes Csilla Domotor

Joshua B Lederer

Maryann Ivers

Decoration for bags and cases

A custom decoration for bags, cases, portfolios and other business accessories (the 'item') that can be printed at an appropriate location directly on the otherwise-finished item is provided. The decoration comprises a single or multi-colored ink image transferred from a lithographic plate using a transfer pad. The underlying tag or 'substrate' for the decoration is a smooth-surfaced soft polyvinylchloride or rubberized material with appropriate ink-receptive or attractive characteristic&#x2014;such as a matte or semi-gloss surface finish. The item is placed on a supporting surface in a pad printing device so that the substrate is restrained within a registration jig; an inked image on a plate is contacted with a printing pad and the pad is moved to contact the substrate, thereby applying the custom decoration thereto. In one embodiment, the substrate is secured by cords to a side of the item. The substrate is constructed from a pliable material, such as rubberized polyvinylchloride, with custom ink decoration applied thereto. The opposing ends of the substrate include tabs that are secured around each of opposing cords. Likewise, a substrate can be secured along an edge of an item by adhesives or stitching. This edge can be that of an outer pocket.

Decoration for bags and cases and method for applying the same

Bag with decoration

A base or pallet that is variably adjustable along its width to specifically accommodate a wide range of differently sized pieces of clothing is provided. A main pallet base is flanked by a pair of extendable and retractable (movable) wings, along the underside thereof, that are constructed from a durable material and that extend simultaneously in opposing directions. In an illustrative embodiment, a movement-balancing mechanism, such as a rack-and-pinion assembly or pantograph, is used to extend and retract the wings at a similar rate. In this manner, pulling or pushing on one wing causes the other to move simultaneously. The wings are locked in place using a locking mechanism beneath the outer-facing side of the main base. The locking mechanism can be a block that applies friction to one of the rack sets of the rack-and-pinion assembly or other movement-balancing mechanism. The clothing piece, when loaded, draped from the side edges of the main base onto the wings, and whence over the side edges of the wings. The side edges are set so as to be adjacent to the sleeve seams, or other desired center-registration points, on the clothing piece.

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Chester, NH, United States of America

Frank J Papa