U.S. patent application number 09/964118 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-27 for fabric with magnetic fibers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Phoenix Textile Corporation. Invention is credited to Rodgers, Eugene David.
Application Number | 20030059609 09/964118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25508147 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030059609 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rodgers, Eugene David |
March 27, 2003 |
Fabric with magnetic fibers
Abstract
A magnetic article is formed from a magnetic fabric that is
formed using individual magnetic fibers and is preferably held in
its desired shape with stitches. The magnetic article can be used
for therapeutic purposes by weaving the magnetic fibers into the
magnetic fabric maintaining the magnetic article in close proximity
to the user to improve its therapeutic efficacy. The magnetic
fibers are preferably sheath-core fibers with a magnetic core and
may alternatively be composite fibers with magnetic particles
encapsulated in a polymer, giving the magnetic fabric an
aesthetically pleasing drape and a tactile handle. The magnetic
fibers can be made from slit films suitable for textile processing
and additional processing can be used to magnetize the individual
fibers. The magnetic fibers can be woven in patterns, and
additional layers of magnetic material can be formed on or
incorporated into the magnetic fabric using known processes for
textiles. Solid magnets can also be added to the magnetic
fabric.
Inventors: |
Rodgers, Eugene David; (St.
Peters, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMPSON COBURN, LLP
ONE FIRSTAR PLAZA
SUITE 3500
ST LOUIS
MO
63101
US
|
Assignee: |
Phoenix Textile Corporation
|
Family ID: |
25508147 |
Appl. No.: |
09/964118 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/373 ;
428/370; 442/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D02G 3/441 20130101;
A47G 2009/004 20130101; Y10T 442/603 20150401; A47G 9/0223
20130101; Y10T 428/2924 20150115; Y10T 428/2929 20150115; A47G
9/0238 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/373 ;
428/370; 442/330 |
International
Class: |
D04H 001/00; D02G
003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A magnetic article having a desired shape, comprising: a
magnetic fabric, wherein said magnetic fabric is further comprised
of a plurality of magnetic fibers; and a plurality of stitches
holding said magnetic fabric in the desired shape of the magnetic
article.
2. A magnetic article according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic
fibers are formed from slit film fibers suitable for textile
processing.
3. A magnetic article according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic
fibers are sheath-core fibers and each of said sheath-core fibers
further comprises a magnetic core fiber and a textile sheath
surrounding said magnetic core fiber.
4. A magnetic article according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic
fibers are composite fibers and each of said composite fibers
further comprises magnetic particles encapsulated by a polymer.
5. A magnetic article according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic
article has an aesthetically pleasing drape and a tactile
handle.
6. A magnetic article according to claim 1, wherein said plurality
of magnetic fibers are woven into said fabric in a pattern.
7. A magnetic article according to claim 1, further comprising a
layer of magnetic material coated onto said magnetic fabric.
8. A magnetic article according to claim 1, further comprising a
layer of magnetic material printed onto said magnetic fabric.
9. A magnetic article according to claim 1, further comprising
incorporation of magnetic material into said magnetic fabric
through textile finishing techniques.
10. A magnetic article according to claim 1, further comprising a
solid magnet attached to the magnetic fabric.
11. A sheath-core fiber for magnetic fabrics, comprising: a
magnetic core fiber; and a textile sheath surrounding said magnetic
core fiber.
12. A sheath-core fiber according to claim 11, wherein said
magnetic core fiber further comprises magnetic particles
encapsulated by a polymer.
13. A sheath-core fiber according to claim 11, wherein said
magnetic core fiber further comprises magnetic particles combined
with a natural fiber.
14. A sheath-core fiber according to claim 11, wherein said textile
sheath is a polymer.
15. A sheath-core fiber according to claim 11, wherein said textile
sheath is natural fiber.
16. A sheath-core fiber according to claim 11, wherein said textile
sheath is combined with magnetic particles.
17. A sheath-core fiber according to claim 11, wherein said textile
sheath is substantially free of magnetic particles.
18. A method for using a magnetic article for therapeutic purposes,
comprising the steps of: forming a magnetic fabric from a plurality
of magnetic fibers; and maintaining said magnetic fabric in close
proximity to a body of a user.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said forming step
further comprises weaving the plurality of magnetic fibers.
20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said forming step
further comprises knitting the plurality of magnetic fibers.
21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
cutting said magnetic fabric into a plurality of shapes that form
at least a part of a desired shape.
22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
sewing said magnetic fabric to hold a desired shape for the
magnetic article.
23. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
wearing said magnetic article.
24. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
laying on said magnetic article.
25. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
coating said magnetic fabric with a layer of magnetic material.
26. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
printing a layer of magnetic material onto said magnetic
fabric.
27. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
finishing said magnetic fabric with an integral layer of magnetic
material.
28. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
attaching a solid magnet to said magnetic fabric.
29. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of
sewing a magnetic fabric layer to said magnetic fabric.
Description
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0001] Not Applicable.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates generally to a fabric and, more
particularly, to a magnetic fabric formed with individual magnetic
fibers.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Art
[0006] According to the inventions described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,37,939, 3,921,620, 4,162,672 and 6,093,143, it is well known to
attach discrete magnets to fabrics that are worn by a person as
apparel or draped over the person for therapeutic purposes. Such
magnets are not integral with the fibers that are woven into the
fabric or with the fabric sheet. Instead, the fibers are
manufactured in a process distinctly separate from the manufacture
of the magnets, and the magnets must therefore be separately
attached to the fabric at particular locations. The magnets may be
small enough to be embedded into a sheet of synthetic material, but
such embedding magnets are not applied to the individual fibers and
instead applied after weaving the fibers into the fabric.
[0007] Similarly, according to the respective inventions described
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,549,532 and 5,882,292, it is also known to
embed magnetic material into a sheet and to layer a magnetic
material onto a fabric. The magnetic layer may be integral to such
a layered magnetic fabric and the sheet, but the layer is not
integral to individual fibers that form the fabric. To form the
magnetic fabric, first the non-magnetic fabric must be formed using
traditional weaving processes, and then the magnetic layer can be
applied thereto.
[0008] Finally, according to the invention described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,515,850, it is known to surround a core fiber with a sheath
of magnetic material and that such core-sheath fibers can be woven
into a ferrite cloth for electronic equipment. Even though the
electronic equipment may include electromagnetic shields and
permanent magnets, the purpose of such ferrite cloths is for the
manufacture of electronic equipment and such ferrite cloths are not
intended to be worn by or cover a person. A core-sheath fiber with
a composite ferrite cover may be acceptable for electronic
equipment, but it would not provide the look and feel that a person
would expect from traditional textile fabrics. Additionally,
multiple ferrite cloths must be laminated together for practical
use in electronic equipment, whereas no such lamination is
generally required for fabrics that are worn by or otherwise cover
a person.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is in view of the above problems that the present
invention was developed. The invention is an article of magnetic
fabric formed from individual magnetic fibers and preferably held
in a desired shape with stitches. The magnetic fibers are
preferably sheath-core fibers with a magnetic core and a
traditional textile sheath. In an alternative embodiment, the
magnetic fibers are a composite of magnetic particles encapsulated
in a polymer. The fabric can be formed using traditional
construction methods, including weaving, knitting, and nonwoven
processes. The magnetic fabric has an aesthetically pleasing drape
and a tactile handle. The magnetic fibers can be made using a slit
film process suitable for textiles, and the magnetic fibers can be
woven in patterns. Additional layers of magnetic material can be
formed on or incorporated into the magnetic fabric using known
processes for textiles, including finishing, coating, and printing
processes, and solid magnets can also be added to the magnetic
fabric using known techniques.
[0010] Accordingly, it is one advantage of the present invention to
provide magnetic fibers that can be woven into a fabric. It is
another advantage of the present invention to provide a magnetic
core-weave fabric that has therapeutic efficacy and also has a look
and feel that is substantially similar to traditional textile
fabrics. It is yet another advantage of the present invention to
provide a magnetic fabric that can be further processed to
incorporate additional magnetic properties into the magnetic
fabric. It is yet another advantage of the present invention to
provide a method for using a plurality of magnetic fibers for
therapeutic purposes.
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as
well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the
present invention, are described in detail below with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the
present invention and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a magnified, perspective view of an
article of magnetic fabric according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a magnetic
sheath-core fiber preferably used in the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of a composite magnetic fiber used in the present
invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates several optional design features
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like
reference numbers indicate like elements, FIG. 1 illustrates a
detailed view of a magnetic article 10 that is formed from a
magnetic fabric 12 and preferably has a plurality of stitches 14
for holding the fabric 12 in its desired shape. In the preferred
embodiment, the magnetic fabric 12 is woven from a plurality of
individual magnetic fibers 16. The magnetic article 10 can also be
formed from a magnetic fabric 12 that is constructed using other
traditional techniques for fabrics, such as knitting and nonwoven
processes.
[0018] The magnetic article 10 can be used to cover or otherwise
adorn a user thereof. For example, a magnetic article 10 could
include clothing, fabric-type jewelry, towels and linens, and
therapeutic devices. Each of these magnetic articles 10 can be made
from the magnetic fabric 12 and has a similar function in that it
remains in close proximity to the user during its usage. Although
the preferred user would be a person, it is conceivable that
magnetic article 10 could be used for pets, livestock, and other
animals and beasts of burden, and it is within the realm of
possibility that such a magnetic article 10 could be designed
according to the present invention for certain plants. Therefore,
the application of the magnetic article 10 may influence the design
or the desired shape of the magnetic fabric 12.
[0019] The magnetic fibers 16 can be formed from a slit film
process that is suitable for textile processing. Fibers formed from
a slit film process, slit film fibers, are typically flat and are
traditionally produced by slitting an extruded polymeric film. The
polymeric film is extruded and then slit into multiple strands
before being drawn into the fibers. The slit film fibers may also
undergo an additional heating and drawing process to produce
fibrils in the fiber's longitudinal direction, giving the fibers a
lattice-work appearance.
[0020] As respectively illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnetic
fibers 16 can be a sheath core fiber 18 or another form of magnetic
composite fiber 20. The sheath-core fiber 18 has a magnetic core 22
that is surrounded by a textile sheath 24. The magnetic core 22 and
the magnetic composite fiber 20 can be formed by encapsulating
magnetic particles 26 within a polymer fiber matrix 28.
Alternatively, the magnetic core 22 and the composite magnetic
fiber 20 may be formed using known textile processing methods, such
as coating the surfaces 30, 32 of the magnetic core 22 and the
fiber matrix 28 with magnetic particles 26 or printing magnetic
particles 26 thereon or otherwise adhering magnetic particles 26
thereto. The magnetic particles 26 may also be embedded into the
surfaces 30, 32, or the magnetic core 22 and the fiber matrix 28
can be finished or otherwise formed with magnetic particles 26. For
the core-sheath fiber 18, the magnetic core 22 may also be a thin
magnetic wire.
[0021] The magnetic fabric 12 is woven from fibers that use
traditional textile materials in combination with magnetic
particles 26 to give the magnetic fabric 12 an aesthetically
pleasing drape and a tactile handle. Accordingly, each of the
magnetic fibers 16 can be individually formed using polymers or
natural fibers in combination with magnetic particles 26. Polymeric
fibers can be made using regenerated cellulose and synthetic
polymers, such as polyester, polyamide and other man-made polymers.
Natural fibers may include silk, wool, mohair, cotton, hemp, flax,
jute, and ramie. For the core-sheath fiber 18, the textile sheath
24 may include magnetic particles 26 or may be free from any
magnetic particles 26. Therefore, the look and feel of the magnetic
fabric 12 can be made substantially similar to the look and feel of
traditional non-magnetic fabric articles, and the magnetic fabric
12 does not substantially limit the desired shape of the magnetic
article 10.
[0022] As one example of the present invention for magnetic article
10, FIG. 4 illustrates several optional design features that can be
used for clothing, fabric-type jewelry, towels and linens, and
therapeutic devices. The magnetic fibers 16 can be woven into the
magnetic fabric 12 in a pattern 34. After the fibers 16 are woven
into the magnetic fabric 12, a layer of magnetic material 36 can be
formed on or integrally with the magnetic fabric 12 and any number
of solid magnets 38 can be attached to the magnetic fabric 12. The
solid magnets 38 can be attached to the magnetic fabric 12
alternatively to the layer 36 or in combination therewith. To
attach another magnetic fabric layer 40 to the magnetic fabric 12,
a plurality of stitches 42 can be used. The aesthetically pleasing
drape and tactile handle are still maintained when multiple layers
of magnetic fabric 12, 40 are used because the layers of magnetic
fabric 12, 40 are not laminated together for the magnetic article
10. The magnetic fabric layer 40 may also cover other optional
design features, such as the layer of magnetic material 36 and/or
the solid magnet 38. In the particular example, the magnetic
article 10 is covering a person 44.
[0023] It will be appreciated that the entire magnetic article 10
can be formed from magnetic fabric 12 that is free of these
optional design features. In such a case, the magnetic article 10
can be made with a substantially uniform magnetic field
distribution. The magnetic field distribution can be modified by
using magnetic fibers 16 with varying levels of magnetism to form
different patterns 34 in the magnetic fabric 12. Additionally, the
optional design features can be used to concentrate the magnetic
field at particular locations, and the overall design can be
incorporated into the desired shape of the magnetic article 10.
Concentrating the magnetic field is particularly beneficial for
making a magnetic article 10 for therapeutic purposes. Accordingly,
depending on its preferred design, the magnetic article 10 can have
an even distribution of magnetic fields over its entire surface and
can have regions of varying magnetic field strength, including some
regions with very little or no magnetic properties 46.
[0024] Accordingly, based on the description above and the related
drawings, the present invention includes a method for using the
magnetic fibers 16 to make a magnetic article 10 for therapeutic
purposes. The magnetic fibers 16 are woven into the magnetic fabric
12. The magnetic fabric 12 is preferably sewn to hold the desired
shape for the magnetic article 10 that is held in close proximity
to the body of a user 44. Before weaving the fabric 12, the
individual magnetic fibers 16 can be formed using any of the
methods set forth above. It will be appreciated that the magnetic
fabric 12 can also be formed by knitting and nonwoven
processes.
[0025] The magnetic fibers 16 can be woven in a pattern 34, and the
fabric 12 can be cut into multiple shapes that form portions of the
desired shape for the magnetic article 10. For example, clothing
and other apparel designs usually have a desired shape that is
formed by sewing together several sections such that there are
stitches 14 between the various sections, such as sewing a shirt
together (not shown) with sleeves, a body, and a collar. Similarly,
for a therapeutic device, such as a back brace (not shown),
suspenders may also be sewn to the back brace and the raw edges of
the back brace fabric may be sewn into a hem. For bed linens, it is
also common practice to sew a hem into the edges of the fabric. For
each of these applications for the magnetic fabric 12, the magnetic
article 10 is maintained in close proximity to a body of a user to
improve the therapeutic efficacy. Accordingly, the user may wear or
even lie on or under the magnetic article 10.
[0026] After weaving the magnetic fabric 12, standard textile
processing can be used to coat the magnetic fabric 12 with the
layer of magnetic material 36 or to print the layer of magnetic
material 36 onto the magnetic fabric 12 or otherwise adhering
magnetic particles 26 thereto. The magnetic fabric 12 can also
undergo a finishing process in which the layer of magnetic material
36 may be integrally formed therewith. The solid magnet 38 can also
be attached to the magnetic fabric 12. Additionally, the magnetic
fabric layer 40 can be sewn to the magnetic fabric 12, and magnetic
particles 26 maybe embedded into the magnetic fabric 12.
[0027] In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several
advantages of the invention are achieved and attained. The
embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and its practical application to
thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the
invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as
are suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0028] As various modifications could be made in the constructions
and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from
the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter
contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying
drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting.
For example, the magnetic fibers 16 can be woven into patterns 34
that have shapes other than those particularly illustrated, and
these shapes may be significantly different for according to the
type of magnetic article 10, including its preferred design and
desired shape. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention
should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary
embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the
following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
* * * * *