FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a process of dyeing garments and more particularly to, a process for dyeing garments with fluorescent dyes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Fluorescent dyes for dyeing garments has been well known for past several years. Dyeing garments or cloths with fluorescent dyes cause significant increase in colour brightness as a result the dyed garments become more visible, particularly in dark conditions. This property of fluorescent dyes has made fluorescent dyed products such as running shoes, children's backpacks, mail carriers' jackets, fire Fighters' protective gear, etc., find greater usage in personal safety gears. Besides safety gears, other applications of fluorescent dyed products that have gained prominence in recent times includes armbands, belts, hat covers, and the like items. Nowadays, fluorescent dyes are even used for nondestructive testing, water tracing, leak detection, antifreeze, adhesives, car wash soaps, and detergents.
[0003] The above noted wide application of fluorescent dyes are mainly due to its
inherent properties such as absorbing light in the UV range of colour spectrum and emitting the absorbed UV light in the visible range, highly detectable (some even below 1 part per trillion), extremely low toxicity ratings, fair stability in a normal water environment, excellent fastness properties, displays good stability, high color strength, etc.

[0004] Fluorescent dyes have gained tremendous importance in today's exciting world of fashion. Garments having application of fluorescent colours (or neon colours) on it are in trend and there is a huge opportunity to tap this increasing neon garment market by the garment manufacturers. The vibrancy and brilliance of neon colours makes them stand out, with certain shades sending a bold fashion statement. People, especially the younger generation, are preferring neon garments for occasions such as parties, discotheques and outdoor activities. Nowadays, neon colour dyeing is finding greater application in jeans of various colours such as yellow, green, black, pink, etc.
[0005] It is however to be noted that besides neon gas, which is one of the most widely used source for generating fluorescence, materials such as 'neon dyes' that could emit intense visible light upon exposure to UV light are also widely used, especially in garment manufacturing sector. Neon dyes appear vibrantly bright and fluorescent in comparison to non-fluorescent dyes.
[0006] Realizing this market opportunity, garment manufacturers have started manufacturing garments by applying neon colours on it with the help of various technologies and processes. In one of the processes used, a cloth piece is passed through the weaving slope and weft mechanism and subsequently refined, washed and bleached. Once this is done, the bleached cloth are dyed with fluorescent dyes post which the dyed cloth is cured and treated with a fluorine-based water repellent. In final steps, the treated fluorescent cloth is thermally fixed with a hot wind blower at a temperature of 140-180 deg

C. The cloth so obtained has a uniform dyeing and appears as single colored bright piece of cloth.
[0007] Though the above process offers stability to the dyed cloth, it sort of does not gives a contemporary and creative look as the cloth is dyed uniformly. Thus, the scope of creativity like creating multiple patterns in a single piece of cloth is significantly reduced. In today's modern world wherein the end user wants to wear attractive clothes, this process could pose a significant challenge in meeting expectations.
[0008] Another manner in which fluorescent garments are currently manufactured is by applying fluorescent with the help of printing process. In the printing process, fluorescent dyes, or neon dyes, along with customary thickeners such as alginates, British gum, gum Arabic, crystal gum, locust bean flour, etc., are used. Then there are quick fix processes, such as spray dyeing, increasingly used for applying fluorescent colours on garments. In the spray dyeing process, clothes are soaked in dye activator and fluorescent dye is sprayed over the garment as per desired patterns.
[0009] The printing and the spray dyeing techniques offer a lot of scope for doing creative things with neon colours such as applying multiple neon colours in a single or multiple pattern on a single price of cloth. As a result of these techniques, manufacturers and in some cases the end users with spray dyeing could create pictures and patterns as well as write names on garments as per their wish and need. However, such techniques suffer from their own drawbacks. The most prominent being retaining the applied neon

colours on the clothes for sustained washing. It is observed that the applied neon colours start fading and losing their pattern after few washes, which his highly undesirable.
[0010] Then there are manufacturers who also take recourse to manufacturing illumining neon colours garments through highly complex processes such as using neon wire as the vestment in the garment that is battery operated. In such processes, illumination could be made to control by touchable button connected to the neon wire. Besides, there are range of garments with luminescent surfaces coated or impregnated with chemical compositions (i.e. fluorescent or phosphorescent) that collect light, which may be of relatively low luminosity, and respond by emitting light of relatively high luminosity. These processes may provide illumination of higher degree with a variety of colours in multiple patterns but its maintenance and the ease of usability is a problematic area.
[0011] Thus, there is a need to make fluorescent dyed garments through ways that solve at least some of the above noted problems.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to form patterns of fluorescent colours on a garment through a fluorescent dyeing process as described in the various embodiments of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly disclosed herein is an aspect of the present invention in which a process for creating patterns on garments in a fluorescent dyeing process includes

preparing a homogenous fluorescent dye solution by mixing pigments and binder in water, soaking a plurality of cloth pieces in the fluorescent dye solution for retaining a predetermined amount of dye solution therein, placing a garment having its reverse side on the front and the plurality of cloth pieces inside a first tumbler, rotating the first tumbler for about 40 to 60 minutes so as to allow the fluorescent dye from the cloth pieces to disperse inside the garment at different places in a non-uniform manner, putting the garment containing the dispersed fluorescent dyes in a second tumbler and rotating the second tumbler for drying the garment, and curing a correct side of the garment to a temperature of 200 degrees centigrade.
[0014] According to some embodiments, the homogenous florescent dye solution is prepared by mixing 4% of garment weight of neon dye, 1% of garment weight of self-cross linking Acrylic co-polymer Emulsion, and about 5% of garment weight of water.
[0015] According to some embodiments, the fluorescent dye from the cloth pieces to disperse inside the garment at different places further includes a small portion of the fluorescent dye appearing on the correct side of the garment in the non-uniform manner.
[0016] According to some embodiments, prior to putting the garment containing the dispersed fluorescent dyes in a second tumbler for drying, putting the garment inside a hydro machine so as to remove approximately 80 % of water therefrom.
[0017] According to some embodiments, the cured garment is subjected to a fix wash using lava as a fixing agent, post which the garment is subjected to a softner wash.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG 1 is a flow chart illustrating a process of dyeing garments with fluorescent dyes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG 2 is a denim jeans with its reversed side on the front before being subjected to fluorescent dyeing process of FIG 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG 3a illustrates a bucket containing a fluorescent dye solution used for dyeing denim jeans in accordance with the fluorescent dyeing process of FIG 1;
[0021] FIG 3b illustrates towels soaked in the towels bucket containing a fluorescent dye solution of FIG. 3a; and
[0022] FIG 4 is a tumbler used for dyeing garments in accordance with the process of FIG 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Various embodiments of the present invention in the following description discuss a process of creating patterns on garments in a florescent dyeing process having high visibility patterns. FIG 1 shows a process flow chart of dyeing garment with fluorescent dye according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process flow chart is explained in a series of steps noted below.

[0024] Step 1: To start the dyeing process, a reverse side of a preferably pre-washed garment (FIG. 2) is taken for dyeing with fluorescent dye so that application of fluorescent dye takes place at the reverse side of the garment.
[0025] Step 2: A homogenous fluorescent dye solution for dyeing the garment is prepared by mixing selected fluorescent pigment, binder and fixer in aqueous base to obtain homogenous dye solution as shown in FIG. 3a.
[0026] Step 3: For the purpose of dyeing the garment in fluorescent dye solution, a plurality of small clothes, preferably, towels are soaked in fluorescent dye solution (See FIG. 3b) and squeezed gently to remove excess fluorescent dye solution.
[0027] Step 4: Actual dyeing takes place inside a first tumbler (not shown) wherein the soaked towels thus obtained and are put in the first tumbler for around 45-60 minutes along with the garment receiving fluorescent dye as illustrated in FIG.4. The first tumbler dyeing facilitates retention of fluorescent dye on the reverse side of garment such that small amount of dye appears on a correct side of the garment without being dispersed into the entire garment. This results in a non-uniform dyeing as the larger amount of fluorescent dye retains at the hem and waist since fluorescent dye finds entry through the edge of piece of cloth and lesser amount of colour traverse to inner portion of the garment. Such kind of dyeing process results in unique wave pattern of fluorescent dye on the garment.
[0028] Step 5: In another embodiment of the present invention, the dyed garment is then taken out from the first tumbler and about 80% of dye water is removed in hydro

machine. The garment is then subjected to drying in a second tumbler. As a result, the dried garment retains dyed fluorescent colour.
[0029] Step 6: Side of garment is again reversed. This time correct side of the garment faces out and then subjected to a curing process. The curing is done at a temperature of 200 degree centigrade. The high temperature treatment allow fluorescent dye to fix onto the garment so that the garment withstand home laundry and may not loose colour on subsequent washes.
[0030] Step 7: The cured garment is given a fix wash with using lava as a fixing agent. The garment is wringed after fix wash and then given a softner wash for smooth hand feel. The final garment is again dried in the second tumbler.
[0031] The final garment so obtained has fluorescent dye affixed onto the surface as non-dispersed wavy patterns on the correct side of garment and fluoresce when UV light fall upon it in dark conditions.
[0032] Preferred dyeing process in accordance with the above noted process flow chart of FIG. 1 is described in detail below with reference a denim jeans garment. It must however be noted that usage of denim jeans should not be construed to be limiting to the scope of the present invention. Instead of denim jeans other form of garments could also be used and should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
EXAMPLE 1:

[0033] Step 1: A prewashed Denim jeans is positioned in such a manner so that its reverse side is exposed to a preselected fluorescent dye.
[0034] Step 2: The Fluorescent dye solution is obtained by dissolving fluorescent pigment of desired colour, binder and fixer. Composition of fluorescent dye solution for dyeing one denim jeans (See FIG 2) is shown in Table.

SNo Composition Type Quantity
1 Fluorescent Pigment Neon Dye 4% of garment weight
2 Water Normal Water 5% of garment weight
3 Binder Binder 4000 1% garment weight
[0035] It is to be noted that the above noted composition, its type and concentration should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as alternatives of these could also be used.
[0036] Step 3: Small towels are dipped in the homogenous fluorescent dye solution. The soaked towels are then squeezed gently to remove excess fluorescent dye solution to prevent uncontrolled dyeing might happen due to leakage of fluorescent dye solution from soaked towels. As such, the portion of fluorescent dye solution absorbed in towels is the effective amount of fluorescent dye available to dye denim jeans.
[0037] Step 4: Denim jeans with its reversed side facing out is put inside the first tumbler along with squeezed towels and dyed for 45 min. When the first tumbler is in

operation, more colour is retained at the hem and waist as colour finds entry through the edge of garment jeans.
[0038] Step 5: After completion of first tumbler dyeing, excessive dye water retained in jeans is removed using hydro machine and denim jeans is further dried in the second tumbler, which is primary used for drying purpose.
[0039] Step 6: Dried and dyed jeans is again reversed to obtain correct side of jeans facing out this time and cured at about 200 degree centigrade to fix the colour into the jeans. This curing prevent loss of colour at home laundry and withstand subsequent washes.
[0040] Step 7: The cured garment is given a fix wash with using lava as a fixing agent. The garment is wringed after fix wash and then given a softner wash for smooth hand feel. The final garment is again dried in the second tumbler.
[0041] The final garment so obtained has fluorescent dye affixed onto the surface as non-dispersed wavy patterns on the correct side of garment and fluoresce when UV light fall upon it in dark conditions.
[0042] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

We Claim:
1. A process for creating patterns on garments in a fluorescent dyeing process comprising:
preparing a homogenous fluorescent dye solution by mixing pigments and binder in water;
soaking a plurality of cloth pieces in the fluorescent dye solution for retaining a predetermined amount of dye solution therein;
placing a garment having its reverse side on the front and the plurality of cloth pieces inside a first tumbler;
rotating the first tumbler for about 40 to 60 minutes so as to allow the fluorescent dye from the cloth pieces to disperse inside the garment at different places in a nonuniform manner;
putting the garment containing the dispersed fluorescent dyes in a second tumbler and rotating the second tumbler for drying the garment; and
curing a correct side of the garment to a temperature of 200 degrees centigrade.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the homogenous florescent dye solution is
prepared by mixing 4% of garment weight of neon dye, 1% of garment weight of self-cross
linking Acrylic co-polymer Emulsion, and about 5% of garment weight of water.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of towels are soaked in the fluorescent dye solution.
4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the step of soaking the plurality of towels in the fluorescent dye solution further includes hand squeezing the plurality of towels for retaining a predetermined amount of dye solution therein.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step in which the fluorescent dye from the cloth pieces to disperse inside the garment at different places further includes a small portion of the fluorescent dye appearing on the correct side of the garment in the nonuniform manner.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step in which the fluorescent dye from the cloth pieces to disperse inside the garment at different places further includes a substantial amount of the fluorescent dye retained at hem and waist portions of the garment.
7. The process according to claim 1, wherein prior to putting the garment containing the dispersed fluorescent dyes in a second tumbler for drying, putting the garment inside a hydro machine so as to remove approximately 80 % of water therefrom.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the cured garment is subjected to a fix wash using lava as a fixing agent, post which the garment is subjected to a softner wash.
9. The process according to claim 8, wherein after subjecting the garment to a softner wash, again drying the garment in the second tumbler.
10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the garments are prewashed.