U.S. patent application number 15/935573 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-04 for protective fabric and protective clothing.
This patent application is currently assigned to PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kazuya OISHI, Kazushige SUGITA.
Application Number | 20180282912 15/935573 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61020705 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180282912 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUGITA; Kazushige ; et
al. |
October 4, 2018 |
PROTECTIVE FABRIC AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Abstract
A protective fabric is provided. The protective fabric includes
a sheet-like body that is flexible, and a plurality of overlaid
portions that is in the sheet-like body and discrete. Each of the
plurality of overlaid portions includes tungsten.
Inventors: |
SUGITA; Kazushige; (Hyogo,
JP) ; OISHI; Kazuya; (Kyoto, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD. |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
61020705 |
Appl. No.: |
15/935573 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/0457 20130101;
D10B 2101/20 20130101; D04B 1/14 20130101; B22F 3/008 20130101;
D04B 1/24 20130101; D03D 1/0052 20130101; B21C 1/02 20130101; B33Y
10/00 20141201; D04H 3/002 20130101; C23C 4/06 20130101; D03D
1/0041 20130101; C23C 4/02 20130101; D04B 21/20 20130101; D06M
23/16 20130101; D10B 2501/00 20130101; C23C 24/04 20130101; D03D
15/02 20130101; D10B 2507/00 20130101; D06M 23/08 20130101; D06M
23/14 20130101; D10B 2501/04 20130101; C23C 4/01 20160101; D03D
15/00 20130101; D06M 11/83 20130101; D04B 21/14 20130101; B33Y
80/00 20141201 |
International
Class: |
D03D 1/00 20060101
D03D001/00; D06M 11/83 20060101 D06M011/83; D04B 1/14 20060101
D04B001/14; D04H 3/002 20060101 D04H003/002; D04B 21/14 20060101
D04B021/14; D04B 1/24 20060101 D04B001/24; D04B 21/20 20060101
D04B021/20; D03D 15/00 20060101 D03D015/00; F41H 5/04 20060101
F41H005/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2017 |
JP |
2017-067720 |
Claims
1. A protective fabric, comprising: a sheet-like body that is
flexible; and a plurality of overlaid portions that is in the
sheet-like body and discrete, wherein each of the plurality of
overlaid portions includes tungsten.
2. The protective fabric according to claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of overlaid portions includes integral-type tungsten.
3. The protective fabric according to claim 1, wherein the
sheet-like body includes yarns, the protective fabric is one of a
knit fabric and a woven fabric that includes the yarns and wires,
each of the wires including the tungsten, and the plurality of
overlaid portions includes portions of the wires that overlap with
the yarns in a plan view.
4. The protective fabric according to claim 3, wherein the
protective fabric is the woven fabric, the woven fabric includes
one of warp yarns and weft yarns as the yarns, and an other of the
warp yarns and the weft yarns is the wires.
5. The protective fabric according to claim 3, wherein the wires
each have a diameter of at least 40 .mu.m and at most 200
.mu.m.
6. The protective fabric according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of overlaid portions includes films on a surface of the
sheet-like body.
7. The protective fabric according to claim 6, wherein the films
are sprayed films.
8. The protective fabric according to claim 7, wherein the
plurality of overlaid portions is discretely and evenly spaced.
9. The protective fabric according to claim 8, wherein the
plurality of overlaid portions have a same shape in a plan
view.
10. A piece of protective clothing, comprising: the protective
fabric according to claim 1; and a clothing body that holds the
protective fabric.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese
Patent Application Number 2017-067720 filed on Mar. 30, 2017, the
entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a protective fabric and
protective clothing.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Conventionally, a bulletproof layer is known which is formed
of an absorbing layer that contains foam glass in whole or in large
part (see, for example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 (Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT
Application) No. 2014-529719)).
SUMMARY
[0004] Although the application of the above-described bulletproof
layer to a piece of protective clothing can be considered, the
bulletproof layer may restrict the movement of the wearer because
the bulletproof layer is not highly flexible. The absorbing layer
can be reduced in thickness to increase flexibility, which
decreases protectiveness.
[0005] In view of this, the present disclosure has an object to
provide a protective fabric and protective clothing that are
capable of increasing flexibility while maintaining
protectiveness.
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a protective fiber
according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a
sheet-like body that is flexible; and a plurality of overlaid
portions that is in the sheet-like body and discrete. Each of the
plurality of overlaid portions includes tungsten.
[0007] A piece of protective clothing according to one aspect of
the present disclosure includes: the protective fiber; and a
clothing body that holds the protective fabric.
[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to
provide a protective fabric and protective clothing that are
capable of increasing flexibility while maintaining
protectiveness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] The figures depict one or more implementations in accordance
with the present teaching, by way of examples only, not by way of
limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the
same or similar elements.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a partially exploded view
of a piece of protective clothing according to Embodiment 1;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged plan
view of a protective fabric according to Embodiment 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the protective
fabric according to Embodiment 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a wire according to a
variation of Embodiment 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged plan
view of a protective fabric according to Embodiment 2; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the protective
fabric according to Embodiment 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Hereinafter, protective fabrics according to embodiments of
the present disclosure will be described with reference to the
drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below
each show a specific example. As such, the numerical values,
shapes, materials, structural components, the arrangement and
connection of the structural components, etc. shown in the
following embodiments are mere examples, and are not intended to
limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, among the
structural components in the following embodiments, structural
components not recited in any of the independent claims which
indicate the broadest concepts of the present disclosure are
described as optional structural components.
[0017] It should be noted that the figures are schematic diagrams
and are not necessarily precise illustrations. Accordingly, for
example, the figures are not necessarily to scale. Furthermore, in
the figures, substantially identical components are assigned the
same reference signs, and overlapping descriptions thereof may be
omitted or simplified.
Embodiment 1
[Configuration]
[0018] First, the following describes an outline of piece of
protective clothing 1 according to Embodiment 1 with reference to
FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a partially exploded view
of piece of protective clothing 1 according to Embodiment 1.
[0019] Here, piece of protective clothing 1 is a protector having
protectiveness. "Protectiveness" means being at least bulletproof
or stab-proof. Although a case in which piece of protective
clothing 1 is upper wear is described in Embodiment 1, piece of
protective clothing 1 may be lower wear.
[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 1, piece of protective clothing 1
includes clothing body 2 and protective body 3. Clothing body 2 is
produced by sewing a generic fabric. The generic fabric is a fabric
having no protectiveness. Each of front body 21 and back body 22 of
clothing body 2 holds protective body 3. In FIG. 1, protective body
3 held by front body 21 is indicated by a broken line, and
protective body 3 held by back body 22 is omitted.
[0021] Specifically, front body 21 and back body 22 have a bag
shape, and each of front body 21 and back body 22 holds protective
body 3 by placing protective body 3 inside. Examples of the holding
method include a holding method by which protective body 3 is
directly sewn on each of front body 21 and back body 22 and a
holding method by which protective body 3 is joined to each front
body 21 and back body 22 with an adhesive.
[0022] Protective body 3 is produced by layering protective fabrics
4 having the same shape. Protective fabrics 4 each are a fabric
that is bulletproof and stab-proof. The following describes
protective fabric 4 in detail.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged plan
view of protective fabric 4 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a
fragmentary sectional view of protective fabric 4 according to
Embodiment 1. Specifically, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of
protective fabric 4 taken along line III-III in FIG. 2.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, protective fabric 4 is
a woven fabric including yarns 41 and wires 42 made of tungsten,
and has an external shape that allows front body 21 or back body 22
to hold protective fabric 4. Protective fabric 4 is produced by
weaving yarns 41 as warp yarns and wires 42 as weft yarns. The
fabric construction of protective fabric 4 is, for example, plain
weave.
[0025] Yarns 41 are more flexible than wires 42. Yarns 41 are
twisted yarns produced by twisting, for example, natural fibers or
chemical fibers. It should be noted that yarns 41 may be single
yarns.
[0026] Wires 42 have the same configuration. Specifically, wires 42
have the same diameter, length, degree of tungsten purity, etc. It
should be noted that wires 42 may include a wire having at least
one of the diameter, length, and degree of tungsten purity which is
different from the other wires.
[0027] Wires 42 have a diameter of, for example, at least 40 .mu.m
and at most 200 .mu.m. When wires 42 are made into protective
fabric 4, protective fabric 4 is capable of acquiring certain
properties in terms of being both bulletproof and stab-proof
because wires 42 have the diameter of at least 40 .mu.m. In
addition, wires 42 have greater flexibility and protective fabric 4
become more flexible because wires 42 have the diameter of at most
200 .mu.m.
[0028] Wires 42 have a degree of tungsten purity of, for example,
at least 99.9%. It can be also said that each of wires 42 includes
integral-type tungsten. Wires 42 may have a degree of tungsten
purity of, for example, at least 95%, but the present disclosure is
not limited to this.
[0029] Each wire 42 that is extra fine and made of tungsten may be
produced by, for example, the following method. Tungsten powder
having a particle diameter of 5 .mu.m is press-molded and sintered
to be a tungsten ingot. Next, the tungsten ingot is swaged into a
wire by being press-forged from its periphery and extended.
Subsequently, drawing of the wire (wire drawing) is performed using
drawing dies. The drawing is performed using the drawing dies each
having a different pore diameter in decreasing order of pore
diameter.
[0030] For example, when a weight ratio of an amount of oxide
included in the wire having a mass of 50 MG is at least 0.2% and at
most 0.5%, the drawing is started using a single crystal diamond
die having a pore diameter of 200 .mu.m as the first die. With
this, wire 42 having surface roughness Ra of at most 0.10 .mu.m can
be produced. It should be noted that "MG" is a unit that indicates
a numerical value representing, in milligrams, a mass of a wire
having a length of 200 mm. The tensile strength of wire 42
increases as a result of performing the drawing using wire drawing
dies. In other words, wire 42 is less likely to break off even when
wire 42 is made extra fine, or rather increases in strength by
being made extra fine.
[0031] Attention focused only on yarns 41 in protective fabric 4,
yarns 41 are disposed in a sheet-like shape. In other words, yarns
41 constitute sheet-like body 6 that is flexible. Portions of wires
42 overlapping with yarns 41 (shaded portions in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3)
are overlaid portions 421 that are in sheet-like body 6 and
discrete. Stated differently, overlaid portions 421 are the
portions of wires 42 overlapping with yarns 41 in a plan view.
[0032] It should be noted that yarns 41 and wires 42 may be weft
yarns and warp yarns, respectively. Moreover, yarns 41 and wires 42
can be mixed in weft yarns, and yarns 41 and wires 42 can also be
mixed in warp yarns. In the case of mixing, wires 42 should be
spaced out evenly in order to achieve balanced protectiveness of
protective fabric 4 as a whole.
[0033] It should be noted that the fabric construction of
protective fabric 4 is not limited to the above-described plain
weave, and may be twill weave such as 2/1 twill weave and 3/1 twill
weave, or satin weave etc. Moreover, protective fabric 4 may be
produced by knitting yarns 41 and wires 42 as knitting yarns. Even
when a protective fabric is a knit fabric, the knitting yarns
constitute a sheet-like body, and portions of wires overlapping
with yarns are overlaid portions.
Advantageous Effects Etc.
[0034] As described above, protective fiber 4 according to
Embodiment 1 includes: sheet-like body 6 that is flexible; and
overlaid portions 421 that are in sheet-like body 6 and discrete.
Overlaid portions 421 each include tungsten.
[0035] According to this configuration, since overlaid portions 421
each including tungsten are in sheet-like body 6 and discrete,
overlaid portions 421 are capable of being bulletproof and
stab-proof. In addition, since overlaid portions 421 are in
sheet-like body 6 and discrete, portions exposed from overlaid
portions 421 are present in sheet-like body 6. Since these exposed
portions have the flexibility of sheet-like body 6, protective
fabric 4 is flexible at the exposed portions. With this, it is
possible to increase the flexibility of protective fabric 4 while
maintaining the protectiveness of the same.
[0036] Moreover, since overlaid portions 421 each include tungsten,
it is possible to shield radiation.
[0037] Piece of protective clothing 1 according to Embodiment 1
includes: protective fabric 4; and clothing body 2 that holds
protective fabric 4.
[0038] According to this configuration, since piece of protective
clothing 1 includes protective fabric 4 having greater flexibility
while maintaining protectiveness as above, it is also possible to
increase the flexibility of protective clothing 1 while maintaining
the protectiveness of the same. In particularly, since protective
fabrics 4 are layered and held, it is also possible to increase the
protectiveness of piece of protective clothing 1 as a whole. It
should be noted that if single protective fabric 4 does not provide
sufficient protectiveness, front body 21 and back body 22 of
clothing body 2 may each hold single protective fabric 4.
[0039] Moreover, sheet-like body 6 includes yarns 41, protective
fabric 4 is one of a knit fabric and a woven fabric that includes
yarns 41 and wires 42 each of which includes tungsten, and overlaid
portions 421 include portions of wires 42 that overlap with yarns
41 in a plan view.
[0040] According to this configuration, since protective fabric 4
is one of the knit fabric and the woven fabric that include yarns
41 and wires 42 each of which includes tungsten, it is possible to
dispose overlaid portions 421 discretely by one of weaving and
knitting using yarns 41 and wires 42. In addition, since wires 42
are wire rods, it is possible to densely dispose wires 42 in one of
the woven fabric and the knit fabric in whole. Accordingly,
protective fabric 4 is capable of providing protectiveness as a
whole.
[0041] Moreover, wires 42 each have a diameter of at least 40 .mu.m
and at most 200 .mu.m.
[0042] According to this configuration, since wires 42 each have
the diameter of at least 40 .mu.m, when wires 42 are made into
protective fabric 4, protective fabric 4 is capable of acquiring
certain properties in terms of being both bulletproof and
stab-proof. In addition, since wires 42 each have the diameter of
at most 200 .mu.m, wires 42 have greater flexibility and protective
fabric 4 become more flexible.
[0043] It should be noted that although Embodiment 1 describes the
case in which protective fabric 4 is produced using wires 42 that
are not coated, a protective fabric can be produced using coated
wires.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of wire 42a according to a
variation of Embodiment 1. As illustrated in FIG. 4, wire 42a has a
surface covered with cover layer 43. Cover layer 43 is, for
example, a twisted yarn, and covers the surface of wire 42a by
twisting wire 42a as a core. Accordingly, it is possible to make
surface textures between yarns 41 and wires 42a more alike, which
allows the enhancement of the appearance of protective fabric
4.
Embodiment 2
[0045] Embodiment 1 describes the case in which overlaid portions
421 made of tungsten are discrete by wires 42 and yarns 41 being
woven. In contrast, Embodiment 2 describes a case in which overlaid
portions include films. It should be noted that in what follows,
the same reference signs are assigned to portions that are the same
as in Embodiment 1, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged plan
view of protective fabric 4B according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a
fragmentary sectional view of protective fabric 4B according to
Embodiment 2. Specifically, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of
protective fabric 4B taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, protective fabric 4B
includes sheet-like body 6b and overlaid portions 8.
[0048] Sheet-like body 6b is a fabric body having no
protectiveness. Specifically, sheet-like body 6b is a woven fabric
produced by weaving yarns 41 as warp yarns and weft yarns. It
should be noted that a sheet-like body may be a knit fabric
produced by knitting yarns 41 or a nonwoven fabric produced by
entangling flexible fibers.
[0049] Overlaid portions 8 include films deposited on the surface
of sheet-like body 6b, and are made of tungsten. The plan view
shape of overlaid portions 8 is a regular hexagonal shape.
Moreover, overlaid portions 8 are discretely and evenly spaced out
on the surface of sheet-like body 6b. Accordingly, interval H
between adjacent ones of overlaid portions 8 is constant. Greater
interval H reduces bulletproof and stab-proof levels of protective
fabric 4B as a whole. For this reason, interval H may be smaller
than the diameter of a bullet head or the thickness of a blade
edge. Specifically, interval H may be at most 3 mm and more
preferably at most 1 mm.
[0050] Overlaid portions 8 are sprayed films produced by a thermal
spraying technique. Specifically, the sprayed films are produced by
a thermal spraying device melting or softening a tungsten material
with heat, performing microparticulation of the tungsten material
and accelerating the minute particles, and causing the minute
particles to collide with sheet-like body 6b. As a result, each of
overlaid portions 8 includes integral-type tungsten. At the time of
thermal spraying, a mask is disposed between a nozzle of the
thermal spraying device and sheet-like body 6b. The mask is
provided with openings in advance, and the tungsten material
passing the openings is formed into overlaid portions 8 on
sheet-like body 6b. In other words, overlaid portions 8 can be
collectively formed. Moreover, the shape of the openings of the
mask determines the plan view shape of overlaid portions 8. In
other words, controlling the shape of the openings of the mask
allows control of the plan view shape of overlaid portions 8.
Similarly, because the layout of the openings of the mask
determines the layout of overlaid portions 8, controlling the
layout of the openings of the mask allows control of the layout of
overlaid portions 8.
[0051] It should be noted that the films to be overlaid portions 8
can be produced by a technique other than the thermal spraying
technique. Examples of the technique include a 3D printing
technique. Specifically, such a 3D printing technique is, for
example, binder jetting in which tungsten granular materials are
combined by binder being jetted, and are sintered by heat.
[0052] It should be noted that although Embodiment 2 describes the
case in which the plan view shape of overlaid portions 8 is the
regular hexagonal shape, the plan view shape of overlaid portions
may be any other shape. Examples of the plan view shape of overlaid
portions 8 include a polygonal shape other than a hexagon, a ring
shape, an elliptical shape, and an inner shape defined by a closed
curve other than these shapes. In addition, although Embodiment 2
describes the case in which overlaid portions 8 have the same plan
view shape, overlaid portions 8 may have different plan view
shapes.
[0053] As above, according to Embodiment 2, overlaid portions 8
include films on a surface of sheet-like body 6b.
[0054] According to this configuration, since overlaid portions 8
include films, overlaid portions 8 can be produced using, for
example, a thermal spraying technique or a 3D printing technique.
If overlaid portions 8 can be produced using such a technique, it
is possible to enhance the degree of freedom of a plan view shape
and a layout of overlaid portions 8. For example, in view of the
whole protective fabric, a layout is easily employed in which
overlaid portions 8 are not disposed in a portion for which
flexibility is emphasized. Conversely, in view of the whole
protective fabric, a layout is easily employed in which overlaid
portions 8 are broadly disposed in a portion for which
protectiveness is emphasized. As above, if overlaid portions 8 are
the films, a protective fabric is easily produced depending the
intended use.
[0055] Moreover, the films are sprayed films.
[0056] According to this configuration, sprayed films produced by a
thermal spraying technique can be used as overlaid portions 8. The
thermal spraying technique is capable of collectively producing
overlaid portions 8.
[0057] It should be noted that Embodiment 2 illustrates the case in
which sheet-like body 6b is a fabric body. However, sheet-like body
6b may be any sheet-like body as long as the sheet-like body has
flexibility. Examples of the sheet-like body other than the fabric
body include a resin sheet and a piece of paper.
(Others)
[0058] Although protective fabric 4 and protective clothing 1
according to the present disclosure are described above based on
Embodiments 1 and 2, the present disclosure is not limited to the
aforementioned embodiments.
[0059] For example, Embodiments 1 and 2 describe the case in which
clothing body 2 including the fabric having no protectiveness holds
protective body 3. However, a clothing body itself can be produced
using a protective fabric. In this case, a protective body may be
omitted from a piece of protective clothing. In contrast, when a
clothing body is produced using a protective fabric and the
clothing body holds the protective body, it is possible to further
increase protectiveness.
[0060] Moreover, although Embodiments 1 and 2 describe the case in
which each of front body 21 and back body 22 of clothing body 2
holds protective body 3, another portions of clothing body 2 (e.g.,
sleeves and a collar) may each hold a protective body.
[0061] While the foregoing has described one or more embodiments
and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications
may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein
may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that they may
be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been
described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim
any and all modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the present teachings.
* * * * *