U.S. patent application number 12/289411 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-29 for fabric structure.
Invention is credited to Chi-Tsung Peng, Chien-Tang Wang.
Application Number | 20100105270 12/289411 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42117952 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100105270 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peng; Chi-Tsung ; et
al. |
April 29, 2010 |
Fabric structure
Abstract
A fabric structure includes a plurality of first
light-reflecting units, a plurality of light-guiding units, and a
plurality of second light-reflecting units. The cross-section of
the first light-reflecting units and the second light-reflecting
units is triangular or square, and the brightness of the first
light-reflecting unit and the second light-reflecting units is
between level 3 and level 10. The light-guiding units and the first
light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted. The second
light-reflecting units are disposed with the light-guiding units in
parallel and are disposed between the light-guiding units and the
second light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted with the
first light-reflecting units. The ratio of the light-guiding units
to the second light-reflecting units is between 20:0 and 1:5.
Inventors: |
Peng; Chi-Tsung; (Hsin-Chu,
TW) ; Wang; Chien-Tang; (Hsin-Chu, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
42117952 |
Appl. No.: |
12/289411 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
442/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D03D 15/44 20210101;
Y10T 442/3976 20150401; D03D 15/54 20210101; D03D 15/00 20130101;
D10B 2401/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
442/301 |
International
Class: |
D03D 15/00 20060101
D03D015/00 |
Claims
1. A fabric structure, comprising: a plurality of first
light-reflecting units, wherein the cross-section of the first
light-reflecting units is triangular or square, and the brightness
of the first light-reflecting unit is between level 3 and level 10;
and a plurality of light-guiding units, wherein the light-guiding
units and the first light-reflecting units are interwoven and
tatted.
2. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of second light-reflecting units, wherein the second
light-reflecting units are disposed with the light-guiding units in
parallel and are disposed between the light-guiding units, and the
second light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted with the
first light-reflecting units.
3. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ratio of
the light-guiding units to the second light-reflecting units is
between 20:0 and 1:7.
4. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ratio of
the light-guiding units to the second light-reflecting units is
between 20:0 and 1:5.
5. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
light-guiding unit includes at least one side light-guiding
portion.
6. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
light-guiding units are connected with a light source.
7. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the density
of the fabric structure is between 50 and 210 lines per square
inch.
8. A fabric structure, comprising: a plurality of first
light-reflecting units, wherein the cross-section of the first
light-reflecting units is triangular or square, and the brightness
of the first light-reflecting unit is between level 3 and level 10;
a plurality of light-guiding units, wherein the light-guiding units
and the first light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted; and
a plurality of second light-reflecting units, wherein the
cross-section of the second light-reflecting units is triangular or
square, the brightness of the second light-reflecting unit is
between level 3 and level 10, the second light-reflecting units are
disposed with the light-guiding units in parallel and are disposed
between the light-guiding units, the second light-reflecting units
are interwoven and tatted with the first light-reflecting units,
and the ratio of the light-guiding units to the second
light-reflecting units is between 20:0 and 1:5.
9. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
light-guiding unit includes at least one side light-guiding
portion.
10. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
light-guiding units are connected with a light source.
11. The fabric structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the density
of the fabric structure is between 50 and 210 lines per square
inch.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a fabric structure. In
particular, this invention relates to a fabric structure that can
actively emit light and reflect light.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] The lighting principle for light emitting fabric of the
prior art is implemented in the following way. The reflection
material (Fluorocarbon) is coated on the surface of the lighting
fabric, part of the reflection material is destroyed by a physical
or chemical method, and the end of the lighting fiber of the
lighting fabric is connected with a light source. When the end of
the fiber is connected with the light source, the light beam
outputted from the light source is transmitted along the lighting
fiber. Because part of the reflection material on the surface of
the lighting fabric is destroyed, the light beam emits from the
surface of the lighting fabric. Therefore, the surface of the
lighting fabric has a light emitting effect.
[0005] However, although the lighting fabric has an actively light
emitting effect, the intensity of the light beam outputted from the
surface of the lighting fabric is not big enough. Furthermore,
because the limpness of the lighting fabric is insufficient, the
lighting fabric cannot be processed with a large curved angle. It
is not suitable for making clothes and decorations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One particular aspect of the present invention is to provide
a fabric structure that can enhance the light beam outputted from
the light source. The texture of the fabric is soft. It can be
easily processed, the weight is light, and it is convenient for the
user to carry it.
[0007] The fabric structure includes a plurality of first
light-reflecting units, and a plurality of light-guiding units. The
cross-section of the first light-reflecting unit is triangular or
square. The brightness of the first light-reflecting unit is
between level 3 and level 10. The light-guiding units and the first
light-reflecting units are interwoven and tatted.
[0008] The present invention has the following characteristics.
After the light-guiding units are connected with the light source,
the fabric can actively provide the light. Furthermore, the present
invention utilizes the light reflection effect of the first
light-reflecting units to reflect the light to the same side and
focus the light so that the light is enhanced. Moreover, the first
light-reflecting units make the fabric structure be softer. The
fabric structure can be easily processed, its weight is light, and
it is convenient for the user to carry it. The fabric structure is
suitably applied to the clothes and decorations.
[0009] For further understanding of the invention, reference is
made to the following detailed description illustrating the
embodiments and examples of the invention. The description is for
illustrative purpose only and is not intended to limit the scope of
the claim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The drawings included herein provide a further understanding
of the invention. A brief introduction of the drawings is as
follows:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the fabric structure of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the A-A line in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is another schematic diagram of the fabric structure
of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the B-B line in FIG. 3;
and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the C-C line in FIG.
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the fabric structure includes a
plurality of first light-reflecting units 1, and a plurality of
light-guiding units 2. The cross-section of the first
light-reflecting unit 1 is triangular or square. The light-guiding
units 2 and part of the first light-reflecting units 1 are
interwoven and tatted. The density of the fabric structure is
between 50 and 100 lines per square inch. The brightness of the
first light-reflecting unit 1 is divided into 10 levels according
to the CNS-7773 brightness measurement method. The brightness
levels 1 to 3 do not produce a light-reflecting effect. The
brightness levels 3 to 10 produce a light-reflecting effect. In
this embodiment, the brightness level of the first light-reflecting
unit is 6. Alternatively, the brightness level of the first
light-reflecting unit can be 3 to 10.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the curve represents the first
light-reflecting unit 1. The circle represents the cross-section 21
of the light-guiding unit 2 (this means that the light-guiding unit
2 is column-shaped). The area of the light-guiding units 2 that is
interwoven up the first light-reflecting units 1 is defined a first
area 3, and the area of the light-guiding units 2 that is
interwoven below with the first light-reflecting units is defined a
second area 4. The light-guiding unit 2 includes at least one side
light-guiding portion (not shown in the figure). The end of the
fiber of the light-guiding units 2 (1-7 lines, in a preferred
embodiment, the number is 3-5 lines) is connected with light source
(not shown in the figure). The light source can be an LED or other
lighting elements. The light beam emitted from the side
light-guiding portion of the light-guiding unit 2 is defined as a
first light beam 5. The light beam emitting from the light source
(the external light source) that does not connect with the
light-guiding unit 2 is defined as a second light beam 6. The first
light-reflecting units 1 located on the first area 3 and the second
area 4 reflects the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6
so that the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 are
focused to the same side to enhance the light beam.
[0018] Reference is made to FIG. 3, which shows another embodiment
of the fabric structure. The fabric structure includes a plurality
of first light-reflecting units 7, a plurality of light-guiding
units 8, and a plurality of second light-reflecting units 9. The
cross-section of the first light-reflecting unit 7 and the second
light-reflecting unit 9 is triangular or square. The light-guiding
units 8 and the first light-reflecting units 7 are interwoven and
tatted. The second light-reflecting units 9 and the light-guiding
units 8 are disposed in parallel and each of the second
light-reflecting units 9 is disposed between two adjacent
light-guiding units 8, and the second light-reflecting units 9 also
are interwoven and tatted with the first light-reflecting units 7.
The density of the fabric structure is between 50 and 210 lines per
square inch. The brightness of the first light-reflecting units 7
and the second light-reflecting units 9 is between level 3 to 10.
The first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting
units 9 with a variety of brightness and a variety of shape are
selected to implement different embodiments. The ratio of the
light-guiding unit 8 to the second light-reflecting unit 9 is
between 20:0 and 1:7. In this embodiment, the ratio of the
light-guiding unit 8 to the second light-reflecting unit 9 is 1:1.
This means that there is a second light-reflecting unit 9 between
two light-guiding units 8. The ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to
the second light-reflecting unit 9 can be adjusted. In one
preferred embodiment, the ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to the
second light-reflecting unit 9 is between 20:0 and 1:5.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the curve represents the first
light-reflecting unit 7. The circle represents the cross-section 81
of the light-guiding unit 8. The square represents the
cross-section 91 of the second light-reflecting unit 9 (this means
that the second light-reflecting unit 9 is square column-shaped).
The area of the light-guiding units 8 (as shown in FIG. 3) and the
second light-reflecting units 9 (as shown in FIG. 3) that are
interwoven up the first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a third
area 100, and the area of the second light-reflecting units 9 that
is interwoven below the first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a
fourth area 200. The light-guiding unit 8 includes at least one
side light-guiding portion (not shown in the figure). The end of
the fiber of the light-guiding units 2 (1-7 lines, in a preferred
embodiment, the number is 3-5 lines) is connected with light source
(not shown in the figure). The light source can be an LED or other
lighting elements. The first light beam 5 emits from the side
light-guiding portions of the light-guiding units 8. The first
light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9
located on the third area 100 and the fourth area 200 reflects the
first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 so that the first
light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 are focused to the same
side to enhance the light beam.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the area of the light-guiding units 8
and the second light-reflecting units 9 that are interwoven up the
first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a fifth area 300, and the
area of the light-guiding units 8 that is interwoven below the
first light-reflecting units 7 is defined a sixth area 400. The
first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting
units 9 located on the fifth area 300 and the sixth area 400
reflects the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 so that
the first light beam 5 and the second light beam 6 are focused to
the same side to enhance the light beam.
[0021] The light-guiding units 8 and the second light-reflecting
units 9 with different ratio, the first light-reflecting units 1, 7
and the second light-reflecting units 9 with different shape, and
the first light-reflecting units 1, 7 and the second
light-reflecting units 9 with different brightness can be arranged
in pairs to achieve the a variety of embodiments of the present
invention. Some conclusion is described as below according to the
measurement result of the brightness by using the CNS-7773
brightness measurement method.
[0022] 1. When the ratio of the light-guiding units 8 to the second
light-reflecting units 9 are the same and the shape of the first
light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9
are the same, the higher is the brightness of the first
light-reflecting units 7 or the second light-reflecting units 9,
the higher is the brightness of the fabric structure.
[0023] 2. When the ratio of the light-guiding units 8 to the second
light-reflecting units 9 are the same, the brightness of the fabric
structure composed of the first light-reflecting units 7 and the
second light-reflecting units 9 with the triangular or square shape
is higher than the brightness of the fabric structure composed of
the first light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting
units, 9 with the circular column shape due to the first
light-reflecting units 7 and the second light-reflecting units 9
with the triangular or square shape can reflect more light
beam.
[0024] 3. When the ratio of the light-guiding units 8 is higher
than the ratio of the second light-reflecting units 9, the
brightness of the fabric structure is higher. When the ratio of the
light-guiding units 8 is lower than the ratio of the second
light-reflecting units 9, the brightness of the fabric structure is
lower. However, the texture of the fabric structure is softer so
that the fabric structure can be easily processed, its weight is
light, and it is convenient for the user to carry it.
[0025] When the fabric structure is applied to a warning label, the
structure of the first embodiment (the first light-reflecting units
1 and the light-guiding units 2) and the first light-reflecting
units 1 with a higher brightness are adopted due to the warning
label needs a higher brightness. When the fabric structure is
applied to clothes or decorations, the structure of the second
embodiment (the first light-reflecting units 7, the light-guiding
units 8 and the second light-reflecting units 9) are adopted due to
the clothes or decorations need to be easily processed.
[0026] The present invention has the following characteristics:
[0027] 1. After the light-guiding units 2, 8 are connected with the
light source, the fabric can actively provide the light.
Furthermore, the present invention utilizes the light reflection
effect of the first light-reflecting units 1, 7 and the second
light-reflecting units 9 to reflect the light beam to the same side
and focus the light beam so that the light beam is enhanced.
[0028] 2. When the ratio of the light-guiding unit 8 to the second
light-reflecting unit 9 is between 20:0 and 1:5, the ability of the
actively emitting light and reflecting light of the fabric
structure is the best.
[0029] 3. The first light-reflecting units 7 and the second
light-reflecting units 9 make the texture of the fabric structure
be softer so that the fabric structure can be easily processed, its
weight is light, and it is convenient for the user to carry it. The
fabric structure is suitable for clothes and decorations.
[0030] The description above only illustrates specific embodiments
and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover
various modifications and variations made to the herein-described
structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall
within the scope of the invention as defined in the following
appended claims.
* * * * *