U.S. patent application number 10/166252 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-12 for fabric for clothing and footwear items.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEOX S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Polegato Moretti, Mario.
Application Number | 20020184927 10/166252 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11452385 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020184927 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Polegato Moretti, Mario |
December 12, 2002 |
Fabric for clothing and footwear items
Abstract
A fabric for a clothing and footwear item, having a structure
that comprises an inner layer, which acts as a lining and is made
of a material adapted to distribute condensed perspiration on a
large surface, an intermediate spacer layer made of a material
adapted to transfer the condensed perspiration from the inside of
the item outward, and an outer layer made of a material adapted to
distribute the condensed perspiration on a very large surface so as
to cause its immediate evaporation. The three layers are integrated
so as to form a single element.
Inventors: |
Polegato Moretti, Mario;
(Crocetta Del Montello, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON SPIVAK MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT PC
FOURTH FLOOR
1755 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
GEOX S.p.A.
Via Feltrina Centro, 16
MONTEBELLUNA
IT
31044
|
Family ID: |
11452385 |
Appl. No.: |
10/166252 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/196 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D10B 2403/0112 20130101;
A43B 23/024 20130101; D10B 2403/0114 20130101; A41D 31/102
20190201; D10B 2403/021 20130101; A43B 23/025 20130101; A43B 1/04
20130101; D04B 1/16 20130101; A41D 31/125 20190201; D10B 2401/02
20130101; D10B 2501/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
66/196 |
International
Class: |
D04B 007/04; D04B
011/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 12, 2001 |
IT |
PD2001 A 000144 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fabric for clothing and footwear items with a structure
comprising: an inner layer, constituting a lining and comprising at
least a material adapted to distribute condensed perspiration on a
large surface thereof; an intermediate spacer layer, which
comprises at least a material adapted to transfer condensed
perspiration from inside an item outwards; an outer layer, which
comprises at least a material adapted to distribute condensed
perspiration on an extended surface thereof so as to cause
immediate evaporation of the condensed perspiration and provide a
regenerated condition of the item; and wherein said inner,
intermediate and outer layers are integrated with each other to
form a single element.
2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises
hydrophilic-treated polyester fibers.
3. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer is made
of any of hollow fibers and fibers provided with outer fins that
are arranged longitudinally.
4. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer comprises
per se known synthetic textile fibers having a structure and
physical shape, such as to provide transport of liquid along and
through the structure thereof.
5. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer comprises
synthetic textile fibers treated with substances providing a water
surface tension reduction, suitable to impart to the synthetic
textile fiber liquid transportation capability.
6. The fabric of claim 1, wherein said outer layer comprises fibers
of polyamide microfiber, selected of hydrophilic-treated polyester
and viscose and equivalent fibers, included in any of a combined
and single fiber material structure.
7. The fabric of claim 1, further comprising an additional layer
laminated on said outer layer, which is selected so as to perform
any aesthetic and technical function required for a clothing or
footwear item.
8. The fabric of claim 1, further comprising a weaving for
integrating said inner, intermediate and outer layers so as to form
a monolithic double-jersey fabric.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a fabric, particularly for
clothing and footwear items.
[0002] It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,51 B1 that it is
possible to make clothing items characterized in that they comprise
a protective external covering and an inner layer which defines an
interspace with access holes at the regions of the body that
produce perspiration more abundantly.
[0003] With such a structure, the items allow convection of the
warm air and vapor normally produced by the body and allow to expel
these elements externally by means of holes which are located in
the upper regions of the garments and on which devices are placed
which keep out water, impurities or other matter.
[0004] Although they are commercially appreciated, these clothing
items have nonetheless shown limitations that have prevented their
widespread is diffusion.
[0005] The manufacture of items having the structure described
above is in fact rather complicated and expensive, since it
requires many operations for cutting and stitching the various
fabrics that constitute the system (at least two, i.e., the outer
covering and the layer that defines the interspace, but usually
three, including an inner lining that is almost always
present).
[0006] Another limitation of the current structure is that items
are obtained that are not always acceptable from an aesthetic
standpoint, as well as in terms of fit: they are in fact bulkier
and more rigid than normal clothing items of the same kind, and
therefore hinder movement.
[0007] For these reasons, the structure according to the above
mentioned U.S. patent is not altogether suitable for garments, such
as knitted items, which require particularly soft and
physiologically high-performance fibers.
[0008] Another problem that is observed is that current garment
structures are not capable of eliminating perspiration that has
condensed and accordingly has converted into liquid, since it
provides an interspace made of fibers that are not intended
specifically for this purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The aim of the present invention is to provide a fabric by
means of which it is possible to provide clothing and footwear
items, solving the problems mentioned above of the known fabric
types.
[0010] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to
provide a fabric by means of which it is possible to provide
clothing and footwear items at low cost.
[0011] A consequent primary object is to provide a fabric by means
of which it is possible to produce clothing and footwear items with
a simpler manufacturing process.
[0012] Another object is to allow, for all purposes, the natural
thermoregulation of the human body.
[0013] Another object is to provide a fabric by means of which it
is possible to produce clothing and footwear items that have better
fit and are physiologically more comfortable.
[0014] This aim and these and other objects that will become better
apparent hereinafter are achieved by a fabric for clothing and
footwear items, having a structure characterized in that it
comprises:
[0015] an inner layer, which acts as a lining and comprises at
least a material adapted to distribute condensed perspiration on a
large surface;
[0016] an intermediate spacer layer, which comprises al least a
material adapted to transfer the condensed perspiration from the
inside of the item outward;
[0017] an outer layer, which comprises at least a material adapted
to distribute the condensed perspiration on an extended surface so
as to enable its immediate evaporation and consequently regenerate
the entire wearing system;
[0018] said layers being integrated to form a single element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become better apparent from the following detailed
description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof,
illustrated by way of nonlimitative example in the accompanying
drawing, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of a fabric
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] With reference to the FIGURE, a fabric according to the
invention has a structure that comprises an inner layer 10, which
acts as a lining, and comprises at least a material adapted to
distribute condensed perspiration on a large surface.
[0022] For this purpose it is possible to use, in an exemplary
embodiment, fibers of hydrophilic-treated polyester, i.e.,
polyester treated with substances capable of reducing the surface
tension of water with respect to said fibers.
[0023] The fabric also comprises an intermediate spacer layer 11,
which forms an interspace 12.
[0024] The intermediate layer 11 comprises at least a material
adapted to transfer the condensed perspiration from the inside of
the item outward.
[0025] For this purpose it is possible to use fibers made of a
material adapted to convey water and/or vapor without absorbing it,
such as for example fibers that are made hollow and/or are provided
with longitudinally arranged external fins.
[0026] It is thus possible to use particular synthetic textile
fibers, that are per se known or commercially available and which,
due to their own inherent nature and also due to their particular
physical shape, are adapted to transport water or liquid along and
through their structure (for example the Coolmax.RTM. fiber, a
trademark of Dupont).
[0027] Such fibers are also adapted to absorb large amounts of
water both inside their structure (absorption) and on their surface
(adsorption), allowing water distribution on a very large
surface.
[0028] As an alternative, or in combination, it is possible to use
fibers that are capable of performing the water transport along and
through their structure as a consequence of treatments to which
they are subjected (treatment based on available substances which
are known to be suitable for reducing the surface tension of
water).
[0029] The fabric also comprises an outer layer 13, which comprises
fibers of at least a material adapted to distribute the condensed
perspiration on a very large, i.e. extended surface, so as to
enable its immediate evaporation and consequently provide a
regeneration of the entire wearing system, by restoring it to a
fresh, comfortable condition.
[0030] It is possible to use, for this purpose, fibers of polyamide
(microfiber) known and commercially available by the name Tactel, a
trademark of Dupont, hydrophilic-treated polyester fibers, viscose,
or equivalent materials.
[0031] The layers 10, 11 and 13 are integrated by weaving 16,
forming a double-jersey monolithic fabric 14.
[0032] Since the outer layer 13 is a component which must also have
a fancy appearance that meets various fashion requirements, and
must therefore vary, in terms of color, weight, structure and
composition, it is possible to provide for the lamination or
coating, onto the finished product 14, on the side of the outer
layer 13, for example by means of spots of adhesive or other
equivalent methods, of an additional layer 15 (shown with
interrupted line) that can perform the aesthetic and/or technical
functions (if said additional layer comprises, for example, a
membrane that is impermeable to water and permeable to vapor) that
an item of clothing must have, thus allowing a further advantage in
terms of production.
[0033] By producing a clothing or a footwear item with the
described fabric, the perspiration produced by the body is
distributed, but not absorbed, on the lining, is transported, but
not absorbed, through the spacer fibers, and then distributed onto
the outer layer in order to facilitate its evaporation.
[0034] Therefore, the clothing or footwear item is adapted to
dissipate warm air and vapor-phase perspiration in addition to any
condensed (liquid) perspiration.
[0035] In practice it has been observed that the intended aim and
objects of the present invention have been achieved.
[0036] With respect to the prior art, a single fabric is so
provided, which is adapted to act, or being used, at the same time
as an interspace, as an outer layer (face fabric), and as an inner
layer (lining).
[0037] Accordingly, fabrication costs are reduced, items being
manufactured with a simpler production process, and fit and
physiological comfort of the items are improved.
[0038] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the appended claims.
[0039] All the details may further be replaced with other
technically equivalent elements.
[0040] In practice, the materials used, so long as they are
compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may
be any according to requirements.
[0041] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
PD2001A000144 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
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