U.S. patent application number 10/911116 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for high visibility fabric and safety vest.
This patent application is currently assigned to Reemay, Inc.. Invention is credited to Imad Mohammed Qashou.
Application Number | 20060026731 10/911116 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35134820 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060026731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qashou; Imad Mohammed |
February 9, 2006 |
High visibility fabric and safety vest
Abstract
The invention is a high visibility safety garment comprising a
spunbonded nonwoven fabric colored with a fluorescent dye or
pigment. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric in some embodiments may
comprise continuous filaments of polyester that are thermally
bonded together. Safety garments prepared in accordance with the
invention are lightweight, flexible, and meet the requirements of
ANSI 107-1999 for luminance, chromaticity, colorfastness, and
durability. The safety garment in some embodiments may be in the
form of a vest having multiple stripes of retroreflective
material.
Inventors: |
Qashou; Imad Mohammed;
(Nashville, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP;BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Assignee: |
Reemay, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
35134820 |
Appl. No.: |
10/911116 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2500/30 20130101;
A41D 31/325 20190201; A41D 13/01 20130101; A41D 31/04 20190201 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/069 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/00 20060101
A41D013/00 |
Claims
1. A high visibility safety garment comprising a flexible high
visibility fabric having portions configured for covering the back
and chest of a wearer, a neck opening and arm openings, said
flexible high visibility fabric comprising a spunbond nonwoven
fabric formed of substantially continuous filaments, said filaments
being dyed or pigmented by a high visibility fluorescent pigment,
and wherein the fabric meets the ANSI 107-1999 standard for
chromaticity, luminance, opacity and durability.
2. The garment of claim 1, additionally including stripes of
retroreflective material on said back and chest-covering portions
of the fabric.
3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the stripes of retroreflective
material extend horizontally around the garment across said
chest-covering portions and said back-covering portion.
4. The garment of claim 3, additionally including stripes of
retroreflective material extending vertically from the
chest-covering portion to the back-covering portion.
5. The garment of claim 1, including a hem extending around
peripheral edges of the fabric, said hem being formed by
heat-sealing.
6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the spunbond nonwoven fabric has
a basis weight of from 50 to 150 grams per square meter.
7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the spunbonded nonwoven fabric
comprises polyester filaments.
8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the spunbond nonwoven fabric
includes matrix filaments formed of polyethylene terephthalate
homopolymer and binder filaments of a polyethylene isophthalate
copolymer.
9. The garment of claim 8, wherein the spunbond nonwoven fabric
formed of substantially continuous filaments is area bonded at
points of filament intersection.
10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent dye or pigment
comprises fluorescent red, fluorescent yellow, or fluorescent
red-orange.
11. The garment of claim 1, wherein fabric is dyed with a
fluorescent dye using a jet dye process.
12. A high visibility safety vest comprising a flexible high
visibility fabric having portions configured for covering the back
and chest of a wearer, the chest covering potion comprising left
and right front panels that are each separately attached to the
back portion and define a chest opening and a neck opening, said
flexible high visibility fabric comprising a spunbond nonwoven
fabric formed of substantially continuous polyester filaments, said
filaments being dyed or pigmented by a high visibility fluorescent
pigment, and wherein the fabric meets the ANSI 107-1999 standard
for chromaticity, luminance, opacity and durability.
13. The safety vest according to claim 12, wherein the vest further
comprises arm openings.
14. The safety vest according to claim 12, additionally including
stripes of retroreflective material on said back and chest covering
portions of the fabric.
15. The safety vest of claim 14, wherein the stripes of
retroreflective material extend horizontally around the garment
across said chest-covering portions and said back-covering
portion.
16. The safety vest of claim 15, additionally including stripes of
retroreflective material extending vertically from the
chest-covering portion to the back-covering portion.
17. The safety vest according to claim 12, wherein the spunbond
nonwoven fabric includes matrix filaments formed of polyethylene
terephthalate homopolymer and binder filaments of a polyethylene
isophthalate copolymer.
18. The safety vest according to claim 12, wherein the polyester
filaments are thermally bonded.
19. The safety vest according to claim 12, wherein the spunbond
nonwoven fabric has a basis weight of from 50 to 150 grams per
square meter.
20. The safety vest according to claim 12, wherein the left and
right front panels are attached to the back covering portion at the
shoulders with a heat seal.
21. The safety vest according to claim 12, further comprising
fasteners for releasably attaching the left and right front panels
together, said fasteners comprising Velcro, buttons, zipper, ties,
or straps.
22. The safety vest according to claim 12, wherein the vest is a
Class II garment under ANSI 107-1999 standards.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to high visibility garments,
and more particularly to high visibility safety vests that meet the
American National Standard Institute (ANSI) 107-1999 standard.
[0002] Outdoor workers along roadways, construction sites, airport
tarmacs, intersections and the like face many dangers. In many
cases, automobiles and tractor trailers may speed pass, often
within inches of workers. Inattentive drivers also pose a
significant problem as they swerve in and out of traffic lanes.
Visibility may be limited for drivers of heavy equipment and
trucks, while noise may make it difficult for workers to hear
approaching vehicles and equipment.
[0003] Even the most attentive driver may pose a risk to workers.
In many circumstances workers on foot may not always be easily
visible to approaching motorists. Outside work is routinely
performed at night or when light levels are low such as dawn, dusk,
or during inclement weather. Visibility problems result in many
deaths and injuries that occur when outside workers are struck by
vehicles or other mobile equipment.
[0004] High-visibility apparel may be worn to help prevent workers
from being struck by vehicles or other equipment operated by
someone who otherwise may not be able to see them during the day or
at night. High visibility apparel significantly increases the
visibility of workers. The use of florescent and/or retroreflective
materials improves visibility under day and night conditions. The
International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has developed the
American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel
(ANSI/ISEA) to ensure that high visibility apparel meets minimum
safety standards. The current standard, ANSI 107-1999, establishes
a set of performance criteria for high-visibility apparel. The
standard defines three garment classifications, which are based on
worker hazards and tasks, complexity of the work environment or
background, and vehicular traffic and speed.
[0005] Under the current standard, high visibility safety apparel
is made of a background material having a fluorescent color that
emits optical radiation at wavelengths longer than is absorbed.
Depending upon the particular classification, the safety apparel
will also include varying stripes of retroreflective material that
are disposed on the background material.
[0006] The majority of high visibility safety apparel is made from
woven or knit substrates that typically have a basis weight from
204 to 340 grams per square meter (gsm). Garments prepared from
these substrates can be heavy and uncomfortable for the wearer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,628 describes a high visibility fabric
comprising a non-woven web and a binder having a fluorescent
pigment. The binder is applied to the nonwoven web and is then
driven to the surface with a drying means to produce a two sided
coloring effect wherein the majority of the fluorescent pigment is
present at one surface, and the opposite surface has a pale
appearance. The use of a binder can result in a fabric that is
heavier, stiffer, and more difficult to manipulate.
[0007] Thus, there still exists a need for safety apparel that is
lightweight, flexible and meets ANSI 107-1999 standards.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a fabric for producing high
visibility safety garments that meet current ANSI standards for
luminance, chromaticity, dimensional stability, and colorfastness,
while still being lightweight, flexible, and easy to
manipulate.
[0009] The fabric comprises a spunbond nonwoven web that has been
colored with a high visibility fluorescent dye or pigment. The
spunbonded nonwoven may comprise a variety of different
thermoplastic polymers, such as polyester, that are capable of
being melt spun to form continuous filaments. Dyeing processes that
use high temperatures and high pressures are particularly useful
because the fluorescent color dye is incorporated throughout the
fabric resulting in better colorfastness, luminance, and
chromaticity. In an alternate embodiment, the filaments of the
spunbonded nonwoven web may be extruded with a fluorescent pigment
incorporated therein so that the pigment is incorporated into the
structure of the fibers. Using a dye or pigment to color the fabric
eliminates the need to have a binder for binding the color to the
fabric. Additionally, colored layer is not limited to an exterior
layer that comprises the binder and the fluorescent pigment. As a
result, safety garments can be produced that are lightweight,
flexible, and meet ANSI 107-1999 requirements for chromaticity,
durability, luminance, and colorfastness.
[0010] The fabric can be used to prepare a variety of different
safety garments. In one embodiment, the high visibility safety
garment is in the form of a vest. The safety vest may include
multiple reflective stripes that comprise a retroreflective
material. The placement and quantity of reflective stripe may be
varied depending upon the desired classification.
[0011] Thus, the present invention provides a high visibility
fabric that is useful preparing safety garments that are
lightweight, durable, and meet the requirements of ANSI 107-1999
for durability, chromaticity, luminance, and colorfastness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0012] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration of an individual wearing
a high visibility safety vest that is in accordance with the
invention;
[0014] FIGS. 2a and 2b are front and back views of a high
visibility safety vest that is in accordance with the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a chromaticity diagram for a high visibility
yellow fabric that is in accordance with the invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a chromaticity diagram for a high visibility
orange fabric that is in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,
the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a high visibility safety
garment in accordance with the invention is illustrated and broadly
designated as reference number 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the safety
garment that is configured in the form of a vest being worn by an
individual 12. The safety garment is not limited to any particular
form and may also be in the form of a jacket, bib, shirt,
waistcoat, poncho, coverall, and the like.
[0019] The vest 10 comprises a fabric 30 having multiple stripes of
reflective material 40 disposed on its surface. The fabric is
typically a colored fluorescent fabric that is highly conspicuous
and emits optical radiation at wavelengths longer than those
absorbed. The fluorescent fabric enhances daytime visibility,
especially at dawn or dusk, and is typically red, red-orange, or
lime-yellow in color. The reflective stripes 40 typically comprise
a retroreflective material that reflects a high percentage light in
the direction from which it came.
[0020] The safety garment 10 is configured as a vest having a front
side 30a and a back side 30b. The front side 30a comprises right
and left front panels 14, 16, respectively that may come together
at front edges 14a, 16a and are connected to the backside 30b. As
shown in FIG. 1, the front edges 14a, 16a in some embodiments may
define a chest opening 11 and neck opening 26 (see FIG. 2a).
Shoulders 22, 24 extend over the shoulder of the wearer, and
together with front panels define a neck opening 26. The vest also
includes arm openings 18, 20 along the sides of the vest. The vest
may be formed from individual pieces of fabric that are cut and
sewn together to form the garment, or may be cut from a single
piece of fabric having a seam at the shoulders or the sides. The
seams may be prepared from heat sealing or sewing the pieces of
fabric together. In some embodiments the safety garment may include
a hem that extends around peripheral edges of the fabric. The hem
may be prepared from stitching or heat sealing the fabric.
[0021] The vest has a plurality of highly reflective safety stripes
40 that reflect light in the direction of its source. As shown, the
vest comprises a first reflective stripe 40a and a second
reflective stripe 40b that extend horizontally about the vest so
that they encircle the torso of the wearer. The vest may also
include left and right reflective stripes 40c, 40d that generally
extend vertically from the front panels, over the shoulders, and to
the backside 30b. It should be recognized that the position, size,
and quantity of reflective stripes can be varied depending upon the
particular standard and classification.
[0022] In some embodiments the vest may also include suitable means
for fastening the front panels together. Such means include,
without limitation, zippers, Velcro, buttons, straps, ties, and the
like that may be used to releasably attach the front panels
together.
[0023] The background material comprises a high visibility fabric
prepared from a spunbonded nonwoven web that has been colored with
a fluorescent dye or pigment. The fabric is particularly useful for
preparing safety garments that are highly visible and meet ANSI
107-1999 standards for chromaticity, luminance, colorfastness, and
durability.
[0024] The spunbond nonwovens used in the present invention are
made from continuous polymeric filaments that are bonded together.
Generally, spunbond nonwoven fabrics are prepared by extruding a
thermoplastic polymer through a large number of fine spinneret
orifices to form a multiplicity of continuous filaments, and the
filaments of molten polymer are solidified and then drawn or
attenuated, typically by high velocity air, and then randomly
deposited on a collection surface. The filaments are then bonded to
give the web coherency and strength. Common bonding methods that
may be used include, for example, thermal bonding, chemical bonding
with a resin or adhesive, thru-air bonding, sonic bonding,
hydroentangling, and the like.
[0025] Area bonding and point bonding are two common techniques for
thermal bonding the web. Area bonding typically involves passing
the web through a heated calender composed of two smooth steel
rollers or passing heated steam, air or other gas through the web
to cause the filaments to become softened and fuse to one another.
As a result, the fabric is bonded throughout its area where the
filaments intersect one another. Point bonding consists of using a
heated calender nip to produce numerous separate and discrete point
bond sites. The point bonding calender nip is comprised of two nip
rolls, wherein at least one of the rolls has a surface with a
patterned of protrusions. Typically, one of the heated rolls is a
patterned roll and the cooperating roll has a smooth surface. As
the web moves through the calender roll, the individual filaments
are thermally bonded together at discrete locations or bond sites
where the filaments contact the protrusions of the patterned roll.
Preferably, the calender rolls are engraved with a pattern that
produces point bonds over about 10 to 40 percent of the area of web
surface, and more preferably about 20 to 30 percent.
[0026] For the present invention, area bonding either with heated
calender rolls or by passing a heated stream of fluid through the
web is the preferred bonding process because it coheres the
filaments together at points of intersection to produce a fabric
that is quite strong and abrasion resistant. Area bonding imparts
considerable strength to the fabric while retaining the integrity
of the fibrous structure on both surfaces. Point bonding is also a
very useful method of bonding the web because it bonds the
filaments together in small, discrete, and closely spaced areas of
the web to produce a fabric that is also quite strong and abrasion
resistant.
[0027] Spunbonded nonwoven fabrics can be prepared from a variety
of different thermoplastic polymers that are capable of being melt
spun to form filaments. Examples of polymers that can be used to
form the spunbonded nonwoven fabric include, without limitation,
polyester, polyamide, polyolefins such as polypropylene,
polyethylene, and olefin copolymers, or other thermoplastic
polymers, copolymers and blends. These polymers may also be used in
any combination or shape to from bicomponent or tricomponent
filaments.
[0028] A particularly useful spunbond nonwoven fabric is comprised
of polyester filaments, and more particularly is formed from
polyester homopolymer filaments. A variety of additives can be used
with the hompolymer including, but not limited to, optical
brighteners, delusterants, opacifiers, colorants, antistats, and
other common melt additives. A fibrous binder may also be included
within the spunbond nonwoven fabric during the manufacturing
process as continuous binder filaments in an amount effective to
induce an adequate level of bonding. The binder is typically
present in an amount ranging from about 2 to 20 weight percent,
such as an amount of about 10 weight percent. The binder filaments
are generally formed from a polymer composition exhibiting a
melting or softening temperature at least about 10.degree. C. lower
than the homopolymer continuous filaments. Exemplary binder
filaments may be formed from one or more lower melting polymers or
copolymers, such as polyester copolymers. In one advantageous
embodiment of the invention, the spunbond layer is produced by
extruding polyester homopolymer matrix filaments (polyethylene
terephthalate) interspersed with binder filaments formed from a
lower melting polyester copolymer, such as polyethylene
isophthalate. Typically, the homopolymer filaments constitute the
matrix fiber and the copolymer filaments have a lower melting point
and constitute a binder filament. Generally, as the web passes
through the heated calender rolls or a stream of heated fluid, the
filaments are bonded together at points of intersection. The
portions of the binder filaments that are heated are melted or
rendered tacky while in contact with the heat calender roll or
stream of heated fluid, and as a result, the binder and matrix
fibers are bonded to together to form a strong coherent fabric.
[0029] Suitable spunbond nonwoven fabrics should have a machine
direction tensile strength typically of about 11,000 grams per inch
and at least 10,000 grams per inch. The spunbonded nonwoven fabrics
should also typically have a basis weight of from about 50 to 150
grams per square meter (gsm), and more desirably from about 75 to
125 gsm. The fabric typically has a machine direction elongation
from about 20 to 40 percent, and somewhat more typically about 25
percent. The fabric typically has a Frasier porosity of at least
185 cubic feet of air per minute per square foot of fabric at a
pressure differential of 0.5 inches of water.
[0030] In some embodiments, the safety garments prepared from
spunbonded nonwovens may have an unfinished hem. Spunbonded
nonwovens comprise a web of continuous filaments containing
numerous bonds resulting in a strong and coherent fabric. As a
result, safety garments may be prepared from the spunbonded fabric
that do not require a hem to keep the edges of the fabric from
unraveling. The fabrics may be used to prepare safety garments more
efficiently and with reduced labor.
[0031] The spunbonded nonwoven fabric includes a colored
fluorescent material that may be incorporated into the fabric as a
dye, or as a pigment that is extruded with the polymeric filaments.
The fluorescent material is typically red, red-orange, or
lime-yellow in color. In one embodiment, the fluorescent color may
be applied to the web using dyeing techniques. The fabric may be
dyed using a variety of different techniques including, but not
limited to jig dyeing, beam dying, jet dyeing and the like. Dyeing
techniques, such as jet dyeing, that involve using high
temperatures and pressures to force the dye into the fabric are
particularly useful because the resulting colored fabric will meet
the durability requirements of ANSI 107-1999. As a result, the
fluorescent fabrics can meet the minimum washing, weather
resistance, chemical resistance, UV stability, and leeching
requirements. Suitable dyes include, for example, Dianix.RTM.
Luminous yellow 10G and Dianix.RTM. Luminous red G, which are
available from DyeStar L.P.
[0032] Dyeing the fabric eliminates the need to have a binder for
bonding the fluorescent color to the fabric. As a result, high
visibility fabrics of the invention have a lighter basis weight and
are therefore lighter, more comfortable to the wearer, easily
storeable, and more flexible with respect to the movements of the
wearer. Additionally, the colored fabric should have better drape
and softness, and should be easier to process and manufacture.
[0033] In an alternative embodiment, the fluorescent color may be
added as a pigment during the extrusion process. For example,
polypropylene filaments may be coextruded with a fluorescent
pigment to produce a fluorescent nonwoven fabric.
[0034] The reflective stripes comprise a retroreflective material.
A retroreflective material, in contrast to a mirror, returns a high
percentage of light or other radiation back in the direction from
which it came regardless of the angle of incidence. A
retroreflective material is able to reflect light through a wide
range of entrance angles. As a result, the retroreflective material
can be used to reflect light from a vehicle headlight back to the
vehicle. Suitable retroreflective materials should meet the minimum
standards for the coefficient of retroreflection that is specified
in Tables in the current ANSI 107-1999 standard. There are a
variety of different types of retroreflective materials that may be
used in the practice of the invention. An exemplary retroreflective
material includes, but is not limited to, Scotchlite.TM. reflective
material, which is available from 3M. The reflective stripes may be
attached to the background material in a wide variety of ways
including, but not limited to, heat lamination, adhesive bonding,
sewing, and the like.
[0035] For class 1, 2, and 3 garments, the minimum requirements for
the area of visible background material and retroreflective
material is specified in Tables 1, 5, and 6 of the publication
American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel, ANSI
107-1999 (the "107-1999 publication") published by The Safety
Equipment Association and approved Jun. 1, 1999 by the American
National Standards Institute, Inc., which tables are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0036] With reference to the Figures, it should be recognized the
vest 10 has been constructed to comply with visibility standards
according to current ANSI Standards. Safety garments prepared in
accordance with the invention may be modified to comply with some
other visibility standard, such as an international standard or
revised ANSI standard. The standards may be revised in the future
and as such, the invention is not limited to any particular current
standard.
[0037] The current ANSI 107-1999 standard specifies various
requirements for chromaticity, luminance, colorfastness, and
durability. These requirements are set forth in various tables and
charts that are included in the 107-1999 publication. As discussed
in the examples below, fabrics prepared in accordance with the
invention meet these requirements.
EXAMPLES
[0038] The current ANSI 107-1999 standard specifies various
requirements for chromaticity and durability. Tables 1 through 4
summarize durability tests that were performed on high visibility
fabrics that are in accordance with the invention. As required by
ANSI 107-1999, the tests were conducted by a third party certifier
according to standard tests created by the American Association of
Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC). Tables 1 and 2 include data
from tests performed on a nonwoven spunbonded polyester fabric that
has been colored with a high visibility yellow dye. Tables 3 and 4
include data from tests performed on a nonwoven spunbonded
polyester fabric that has been colored with a high visibility
orange dye. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Dimensional Change of Fabric
(High Visibility Yellow) Dimensional Shrinkage % ANSI 107-1999
Change 5 washes Requirements Length 0.8 4.0% Max Width 1.0 2.0% Max
Test: AATCC 135 (3)IIIA(iii) Fabric was machine washed at
105.degree. F.; permanent press cycle; tumble dry permanent press
cycle.
[0039] TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Colorfastness of fabric (High
Visibility Yellow) Crocking Requirements ATTCC 8* Gray Scale Rating
ANSI 107-1999 Dry 4.5 4.0 Wet 4.5 4.0 Perspiration Water AATCC 15*
AATCC 107* Fading 5.0 5.0 (Gray scale rating) Requirements 4.0 4.0
ANSI 107-1999 Transfer to: (Gray Scale Rating) Acetate 5.0 5.0
Cotton 5.0 5.0 Nylon 5.0 5.0 Dacron 5.0 5.0 Orlon 5.0 5.0 Wool 5.0
5.0 Requirements 3.0 4.0 ANSI 107-1999 Machine Laundering Machine
Laundering with Bleach AATCC 61 (2A)* AATCC 61 (5A)* Fading 5.0 4.5
(Gray scale rating) Requirements 4.5 4.0 ANSI 107-1999 Transfer to:
-- (Gray Scale Rating) Acetate 4.0 -- Cotton 5.0 -- Nylon 3.0 --
Dacron 5.0 -- Orlon 5.0 -- Wool 4.5 -- Requirements 3.0 -- ANSI
107-1999 Heat Hot Pressing Requirements AATCC 133* Gray Scale
Rating ANSI 107-1999 Fading After Conditioning 5.0 4.5 Staining 5.0
3.0 Dry pressing at 150.degree. C. *Key to AATCC Gray Scale Ratings
Class 5 - Negligible or no color alteration Class 4 - Slight color
alteration Class 3 - Noticeable color alteration Class 2 -
Considerable color alteration Class 1 - Much color alteration
[0040] TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Dimensional Change of Fabric (High
Visibility Orange) Dimensional Shrinkage % ANSI 107-1999 Change 5
washes Requirements Length 1.0 4.0% Max Width 1.1 2.0% Max Test:
AATCC 135 (3)IIIA(iii) Fabric was machine washed at 105.degree. F.;
permanent press cycle; tumble dry permanent press cycle.
[0041] TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Colorfastness of fabric (High
Visibility Orange) Crocking Requirements ATTCC 8* Gray Scale Rating
ANSI 107-1999 Dry 4.0 4.0 Wet 4.5 4.0 Perspiration Water AATCC 15*
AATCC 107* Fading 5.0 5.0 (Gray scale rating) Requirements 4.0 4.0
ANSI 107-1999 Transfer to: (Gray Scale Rating) Acetate 5.0 5.0
Cotton 5.0 5.0 Nylon 5.0 5.0 Dacron 5.0 5.0 Orlon 5.0 5.0 Wool 5.0
5.0 Requirements 3.0 4.0 ANSI 107-1999 Machine Laundering Machine
Laundering with Bleach AATCC 61 (2A)* AATCC 61 (5A)* Fading 5.0 4.5
(Gray scale rating) Requirements 4.5 4.0 ANSI 107-1999 Transfer to:
-- (Gray Scale Rating) Acetate 4.0 -- Cotton 4.5 -- Nylon 3.0 --
Dacron 4.5 -- Orlon 5.0 -- Wool 4.5 -- Requirements 3.0 -- ANSI
107-1999 Heat Hot Pressing Requirements AATCC 133* Gray Scale
Rating ANSI 107-1999 Fading After Conditioning 5.0 4.5 Staining 5.0
3.0 Dry pressing at 150.degree. C. *Key to AATCC Gray Scale Ratings
Class 5 - Negligible or no color alteration Class 4 - Slight color
alteration Class 3 - Noticeable color alteration Class 2 -
Considerable color alteration Class 1 - Much color alteration
[0042] ANSI 107-1999 specifies that the background material have a
chromaticity falling within an area defined in Table 2 of the
107-1999 publication, and a minimum luminance factor that is also
defined in Table 2. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, chromaticity
diagrams for the high visibility orange and yellow diagrams are
illustrated. As shown in the FIGS. both the high visibility orange
and yellow fabrics have a chromaticity that is within the required
chromaticity area that is defined in ANSI 107-1999. The area is
represented by the four-sided box shown in the Figures. Tables 5
and 6 include chromaticity and luminance data for the samples that
was provided by a third party certifier. TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5
Chromaticity and luminance determination for High Visibility Yellow
Fabric Requirements ANSI 107-1999 As Luminance Received After 40
AFU** x y factor Luminance 0.97 0.91 0.387 0.610 0.76 x-rating
0.385 0.375 0.356 0.494 -- y-rating 0.539 0.527 0.398 0.452 --
0.460 0.540 -- **AATCC 16E
[0043] TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Chromaticity and luminance
determination for High Visibility Orange Fabric Requirements ANSI
107-1999 As Luminance Received After 40 AFU** x y factor Luminance
0.45 0.46 0.610 0.390 0.40 x-rating 0.605 0.589 0.544 0.376 --
y-rating 0.362 0.370 0.579 0.341 -- 0.655 0.344 -- **AATCC 16E AFU
(AATCC Fading Unit)
[0044] During the chromaticity test the fabric samples were exposed
to a specific amount of exposure made under conditions that are
specified in the AATCC test methods. An AFU is 1/20 of the light-on
exposure that is required to produce a color change that is equal
to step 4 on the AATCC Gray Scale. Although not specifically
mentioned in ANSI 107-1999, the fabric needs opacity to pass the
luminance and chromaticity requirements. Under ANSI test
procedures, two layers of the background material are tested
against a black background. The material will not meet ANSI
standards if the background material can be seen through the
material. As a result, to pass the luminance and chromaticity the
background material must have a certain level of opacity. High
visibility fabrics prepared in accordance with the invention have
the necessary level of opacity.
[0045] As should be apparent from the data contained in the above
tables, the high visibility fabrics of the invention meet the
chromaticity, luminance, dimensional stability, and colorfastness
requirements of ANSI 107-1999.
[0046] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention
set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to
which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings
presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated
drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is
not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that
modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms
are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
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