U.S. patent application number 11/179370 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for coated and colored yarn having a transparent protective layer.
This patent application is currently assigned to CASOTEX ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kenneth Tseng.
Application Number | 20070014988 11/179370 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37661976 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070014988 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tseng; Kenneth |
January 18, 2007 |
Coated and colored yarn having a transparent protective layer
Abstract
A coated and colored yarn includes a core and a transparent
protective layer. The core has an outer surface, and includes at
least one yarn which is colored. The transparent protective layer
is coated on the outer surface of the core. The yarn may include a
plurality of false-twisted fibers which are made of a plastic
material.
Inventors: |
Tseng; Kenneth; (Chia-Yi
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
US
|
Assignee: |
CASOTEX ENTERPRISE CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
37661976 |
Appl. No.: |
11/179370 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 428/2933 20150115;
D02G 3/404 20130101; D02G 3/346 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/375 |
International
Class: |
D02G 3/00 20060101
D02G003/00 |
Claims
1. A coated and colored yarn comprising: a core having an outer
surface, and including at least one yarn which is colored; and a
transparent protective layer coated on said outer surface of said
core.
2. The coated and colored yarn as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
core includes a pair of said yarns which are twisted together.
3. The coated and colored yarn as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
core includes a plurality of said yarns which are different in
color.
4. The coated and colored yarn as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
yarn includes a plurality of false-twisted fibers which are made of
a plastic material.
5. The coated and colored yarn as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
plastic material incorporates a coloring agent.
6. The coated and colored yarn as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
plastic material has no coloring agent, and said fibers are dyed
after being formed into said yarn.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a yarn, more particularly to a
coated and colored yarn that has a strong structure so as to be
suitable for use in making woven articles.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A clothing material is made conventionally by knitting
yarns, which in turn, are formed by spinning and weaving natural or
synthetic fibers. Although the yarns formed from such fibers have a
substantial degree of softness, they have weak structures that are
suitable only for making clothing materials, but not suitable for
making woven supporting articles, such as seat cushions, backrest
cushions, etc. In order to strengthen the structures of the
aforesaid yarns, plastic materials are directly extruded to form
stronger yarns. However, since plastic is easily deformed when
pulled, the woven supporting articles made from said yarns are not
durable. Another conventional method to strengthen the yarn and add
color to the same is to spin plastic pellets into synthetic fibers,
after which the synthetic fibers are false-twisted to form the
yarn. Another batch of plastic pellets are added with a coloring
agent, melted together so as to form a predetermined color, and
then coated on an outer surface of the yarn, thereby providing the
yarn with a coated layer having a predetermined color. Although
this kind of yarn made from synthetic fibers is strong and is
colored, since the coloring agent is added to the coated layer of
the yarn, the color of the yarn fades easily when exposed to
sunlight. Further, the coated layer of the yarn is easily removed
when in direct contact with a user, so that a woven article made
from such yarn quickly appears worn.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a coated and colored yarn that can receive direct sunlight without
experiencing discoloration and that is durable.
[0006] According to this invention, a coated and colored yarn
comprises a core and a transparent protective layer. The core has
an outer surface, and includes at least one yarn which is colored.
The transparent protective layer is coated on the outer surface of
the core.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of a coated and colored yarn according to the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the first preferred embodiment in a state
of use;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second preferred
embodiment of a coated and colored yarn according to the present
invention; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the second preferred
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment
of a coated and colored yarn 1 according to the present invention
is shown to comprise a core 11, and a transparent protective layer
12.
[0015] The core 11, in this embodiment, includes a single yarn 112,
which is colored. The single yarn 112 can be formed by spinning and
false-twisting natural or synthetic fibers. In considering the cost
and the strength of the structure of the single yarn 112,
false-twisted synthetic Full Drawn Yarn (FDY) is preferable.
Alternatively, the yarn 112 may be made from fibers of known
materials, such as polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyester, etc.
The fiber material used in the present invention is not
particularly limited. In order for the yarn 112 to have a
predetermined color, a coloring agent may be added directly to
plastic pellets prior to a spinning process, or may be used in
dyeing fibers formed from the plastic pellets after the spinning
process.
[0016] The protective layer 12, in this embodiment, is made of a
transparent or semi-transparent plastic material, such as polyvinyl
chloride (PVC). During manufacture, the plastic material is melted,
and is then coated on an outer surface 111 of the core 11 to
protect the same. The material for making the protective layer 12
is not limited to a particular material. As long as the material is
not easily damaged by sunlight and not easily worn, it meets the
basic criteria to determine suitability for use in the present
invention.
[0017] Since the core 11 of the coated and colored yarn 1 is made
from fibers which cannot be easily stretched and deformed, when a
plurality of the yarns 1 are woven into a woven material 2 (see
FIG. 3), this resulting woven material 2 has a strong structure.
The woven material 2 also has a predetermined color. Further, the
protective layer 12 coated on the outer surface 111 of the core 11
not only can permit viewing of the color of the core 11, but also
can prevent the core 11 from direct exposure to sunlight. Hence,
the woven material 2 is not discolored by sunlight, and is
durable.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates how a plurality of the coated and colored
yarns 1 can be interwoven to form a woven material 2, which in
turn, is suitable for making woven articles (not shown), such as a
seat cushion, a backrest cushion, a bottom wall or a side wall of a
woven cabinet, etc. However, the field of application of the coated
and colored yarn 1 of the present invention is not limited to the
aforementioned examples.
[0019] The process for making the coated and colored yarn 1 of the
present invention includes two steps: preparing the core 11, and
forming the protective layer 12. The steps in preparing the core 11
include mixing and melting of raw material, spinning, and
false-twisting. Strong polyester pellets and a coloring agent are
mixed, and are then heated so as to melt. Afterwards, through a
spinning device, the melted raw material is spun into fibers of a
predetermined thickness. A plurality of the fibers are then
false-twisted so as to form a plurality of the single yarns 112
which are colored. The single yarns 112 may be formed from
false-twisting short or long fibers. The false-twisting method is
not particularly limited. The fibers can be false-twisted to form
fancy yarn, air textile yarn (ATY), draw textile yarn (DTY), etc.
Since the coloring agent is directly added to the plastic pellets
in the preparation process of the core 11, the core 11 produced has
a predetermined color.
[0020] The steps in forming the protective layer 12 include melting
the transparent or semi-transparent plastic material, such as PVC,
and coating the melted plastic material on the outer surface 111 of
the core 11. Since the plastic material is transparent, it not only
can protect the core 11, but also can permit viewing of the color
of the core 11.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the second preferred embodiment
of a coated and colored yarn 1 according to the present invention
is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. In
particular, the coated and colored yarn 1 comprises a core 11, and
a transparent protective layer 12. The main difference between the
first and second preferred embodiments resides in the structure of
the core 11. In this embodiment, the core 11 includes a pair of
yarns 112 which are colored and which are twisted together so that
not only is the structure of the core 11 strong, but the appearance
of the core 11 is also enhanced. To further strengthen the
structure and the color variety of the yarn 1, the core 11 may
include three, four, five, or more yarns which are different in
color.
[0022] The steps for producing the coated and colored yarn 1 of the
second preferred embodiment includes preparing the core 11, and
applying the protective layer 12. The steps in preparing the core
11 include melting the raw material, spinning, initial
false-twisting, dyeing, and final false-twisting. The raw material
used includes polyester pellets, and is spun to form fibers. The
fibers are then false-twisted to form a plurality of yarns. Next,
some of the yarns 112 are dyed with a first color pigment, and the
other yarns 112 are dyed with a second color pigment. Afterwards,
two yarns 112 of different colors are twisted so as to form the
core 11. Finally, the protective layer 12 is applied to the core 11
so as to form the coated and colored yarn 1 of FIG. 4.
[0023] From the aforementioned description, it is apparent that the
core 11 of the coated and colored yarn 1 formed from the fibers has
a predetermined color, and is coated with the transparent
protective layer 12 so that the structure of the core 11 is strong,
and viewing of the color of the core 11 is permitted. Further,
since the core 11 has the transparent protective layer 12, it is
not easily damaged so that the coated and colored yarn 1 of the
present invention not only can resist discoloration when exposed to
sunlight, but also is durable. The coated and colored yarn 1 can
thus be woven to produce a resilient, long-lasting woven
article.
[0024] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
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