U.S. patent application number 15/770892 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-08 for sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone.
This patent application is currently assigned to X-Technology Swiss GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is X-Technology Swiss GmbH. Invention is credited to Bodo LAMBERTZ.
Application Number | 20180317582 15/770892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57345878 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180317582 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LAMBERTZ; Bodo |
November 8, 2018 |
SPORTSWEAR WITH AT LEAST ONE CONTROLLED TEMPERATURE ZONE
Abstract
A piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature
zone which is made of a textile fabric structure that is shirred
locally via tension zones so as to form webs. The webs are designed
to contact the skin of the wearer on the interior of the fabric
structure, and inner air channels are formed between the webs. At
least one groove which forms an outer air channel is formed on the
rear face of each of the webs on the shirred sheet structure. The
controlled temperature zone is equipped with individualized
controlled temperature elements which are contained in short webs
separated from one another by lateral separation zones. Adjacent
inner air channels are connected together by the separation zones,
and the separation zones are laterally offset to one another
between the controlled temperature elements such that the
controlled temperature elements are arranged to at least partly
overlap with respect to the length of the vertical body axis.
Inventors: |
LAMBERTZ; Bodo; (Schwyz,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
X-Technology Swiss GmbH |
Wollerau |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
X-Technology Swiss GmbH
Wollerau
CH
|
Family ID: |
57345878 |
Appl. No.: |
15/770892 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
November 4, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/076680 |
371 Date: |
April 25, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 31/125 20190201;
A41D 13/0015 20130101; A41D 13/0056 20130101; A41D 27/28 20130101;
A41D 31/12 20190201; A41D 13/002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/28 20060101
A41D027/28; A41D 13/002 20060101 A41D013/002 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 4, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 118 892.9 |
Claims
1. A piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature
zone comprising a textile fabric structure, which is locally
shirred over tension zones into webs, wherein the webs are designed
to contact the skin of the wearer on the inner side of the fabric
structure, wherein inner air channels are formed between adjacent
webs, wherein a respective at least one channel is formed on the
rear face of the webs on the shirred fabric structure, and forms an
outer air channel, and wherein several webs are arranged one over
the other in the controlled temperature zone, wherein a plurality
of isolated controlled temperature elements are arranged in the
controlled temperature zone, and contain short webs that are
separated from each other by lateral separation zones, adjacent
inner air channels on the inner side of the fabric structure are
connected with each other by the separation zones, and the
separation zones between the controlled temperature elements are
laterally offset to each other, such that the controlled
temperature elements at least partially overlap in relation to the
longitudinal extension of the vertical body axis.
2. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein the
controlled temperature elements in at least one controlled
temperature zone are at least partially angled, and include an
acute angle of 120.degree. to 150.degree..
3. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at least a
portion of the controlled temperature elements is shaped like a
reclining Yin at least one controlled temperature zone.
4. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at least a
portion of the controlled temperature elements is shaped like a
standing Y in at least one controlled temperature zone.
5. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at least a
portion of the controlled temperature elements is shaped like a
reclining or standing V in at least one controlled temperature
zone.
6. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein at least a
portion of the controlled temperature elements is rod shaped and
extends transversely or at an inclination to the body axis in at
least one controlled temperature zone.
7. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein the webs
and tension zones are part of a separately fabricated controlled
temperature element, which is connected with the textile fabric
structure.
8. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein the
textile fabric structure is a woven fabric, wherein the webs
include the shirred base woven fabric, and the tension zones have a
reduced mesh number by comparison to the base woven fabric.
9. The piece of sportswear according to claim 8, wherein the
controlled temperature zones have structures that run both inclined
and offset to the body axis due to linearly or alternatingly offset
rows in the knitting.
10. The piece of sportswear according to claim 8, wherein the
controlled temperature elements have structures that run both
inclined and offset to the body axis, wherein a linearly uniform or
non-uniform offset knitting and/or an alternatingly uniform or
non-uniform offset of individual meshes are provided in the
knitting.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a piece of sportswear with at least
one controlled temperature zone having the features in the preamble
to claim 1.
[0002] Such a piece of sportswear is known from EB 1 476 033 B1. It
comprises web-shaped partial areas, which are thickened, and thus
contact the skin and form outer air channels on their rear face, as
well as areas that do not contact the skin, which form inner air
channels. Sweat is absorbed on the webs contacting the skin on the
inside of the piece of sportswear, and then wicked away by the
webs, and can evaporate via the outer air channels. Evaporation
results in local cooling. Air can flow between the webs in the
inner air channels, and thereby bring about a temperature
compensation. In order to be able to capture the sweat that
trickles down, the webs are aligned essentially transverse to the
body axis. While these proven controlled temperature zones do
permit outstanding sweat absorption, they have the disadvantage
that air circulation in the controlled temperature zone is only
possible parallel to the webs. Warmed air cannot rise along the
body axis inside of the controlled temperature zone.
[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve
a piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone
of the kind mentioned at the outset in terms of air circulation,
while keeping the good characteristics with respect to sweat
absorption and sweat evaporation.
[0004] The present invention proposes a piece of sportswear with
the features in claim 1 as the solution.
[0005] According to the present invention, the controlled
temperature zones do not comprise webs and air channels that are
continuously aligned parallel to each other, but rather comprise
several isolated controlled temperature elements, of which each is
separately designed in the known manner, but only has at least one
web that does not extend over the entire width of the controlled
temperature element. The controlled temperature elements are
separated from each other in a transverse direction to the vertical
body axis by lateral separation zones.
[0006] Within the meaning of the present invention, separation
zones are the areas laterally next to a controlled temperature
element or between two adjacent controlled temperature elements.
The controlled temperature elements are also separated from each
other vertically, specifically by transversely running or inclined
inner air channels, as already the norm according to prior art. The
separation zones are basically also inner air channels, but the
linguistic differentiation serves to better characterize the
invention with regard to the ensuing directions in which air flows
upward and sweat runs off.
[0007] The controlled temperature elements are enveloped by textile
fabrics. Formed between the latter are the inner channels, through
which air circulates. The controlled temperature elements are
arranged in such a way that drops of sweat on the skin cannot run
from the top down through the entire controlled temperature zone,
because they are respectively captured in a lower lying sweat
collection area, the ensuing web lying on the skin. To this end,
the controlled temperature elements positioned at varying heights
relative to the vertical body axis are laterally offset to each
other. The elements can be arranged in various ways, which all
share in common that the areas contacting the skin and those not
contacting the skin alternate or are offset relative to each other
so as not to allow a drop of sweat to continue trickling down. At
the same time, the offset controlled temperature elements only
present a slight obstacle to rising air. The air on the skin
surface can circulate in several directions, since air channels in
the vertical are kept open by the arrangement of controlled
temperature elements with interspersed separation zones. As a
result, warmed air can rise through the controlled temperature
zone. The chimney effect associated therewith improves moisture
removal, and thus cooling of the skin.
[0008] The arrangement preferably follows a uniform pattern, but
can also be non-uniform, as long as the basic principles of the
invention are followed during the formation and arrangement of
controlled temperature elements, specifically of providing
separation zones to enable a vertical air flow on the one hand, and
arranging the separation zones laterally offset on the other, so
that sweat trickling down can be captured in the respective rows
lying the next level down. The controlled temperature zones with
the controlled temperature elements are thus optimally adjusted to
the body zones that sweat especially heavily during sports
activity.
[0009] The offset arrangement relates in particular to a vertical
body axis. However, this does not necessarily mean that the
alignment has to be exactly vertical when an athlete is wearing the
piece of sportswear in the invention, but rather is intended to
characterize a direction of air flow, i.e., the direction in which
the warmed air can rise along the body surface of the athlete. Of
course, this direction of air flow will somehow be directed against
the direction of gravity in the usual movement patterns of the
athlete, wherein not only a precisely vertical, but also inclined
direction of air flow is possible. Several flow vanes can also be
formed on the piece of sportswear or even inside of the same
controlled temperature zone, meaning the air flow can be fanned
out. It is only important in terms of the invention that the
direction of air flow not be interrupted by the barriers lying in
the flow path that are formed in prior art by the webs.
[0010] The direction in which the drops of sweat run off extends
opposite the direction of air flow. According to the invention,
this direction is in turn to be interrupted, so as to capture the
sweat trickling down. Such a barrier created by the laterally
offset arrangement of controlled temperature elements need not be
present in each row of controlled temperature elements. A sequence
of rows without barriers can also be detached by at least one pair
of rows offset relative to each other, in which the sweat is then
captured.
[0011] The controlled temperature zones can be generated by
knitting, but also by adhesively bonding elements onto fabrics or
other textiles.
[0012] The shape and arrangement of the controlled temperature
elements can be selected in different ways, wherein all embodiments
share in common that the areas contacting the skin and those not
lying on the skin alternate with each other or are offset relative
to each other so as to prevent a drop of sweat from trickling down
unimpeded, and instead capture each drop of sweat again as quickly
as possible.
[0013] In horizontal projection, the controlled temperature
elements can be shaped like a Y, a V, an X, a double-Y or the like,
for example, since these shapes are readily suitable for capturing
a drop, while at the same time posing only a slight obstacle to
laterally passing, rising air.
[0014] The controlled temperature zones on the clothing can vary in
configuration in the overall extension, with the inclusion of all
individual controlled temperature elements, so as to yield various
additional advantages. For example, they can be vertically
elongated to achieve a pronounced chimney effect, and to in this
way be able to transport air from as far down as possible and
transport it toward the top at the collar of a shirt or a pant
waistband, where it then exits.
[0015] The textile fabric structure is preferably a knitted fabric
that forms the controlled temperature zone, and is either specially
designed for this purpose or connected with the base fabric of the
piece of sportswear. In order to form the structures that rise in
relation to the body axis and are visible on the following figures,
the following measures can be provided while knitting: [0016]
Linear row offset [0017] Linear, uniform offset of individual
meshes [0018] Non-uniform offset of individual meshes [0019]
Alternating row offset of mesh zones, which yields a preform [0020]
Alternating, uniform offset of individual meshes, and [0021]
Alternating, non-uniform offset of individual meshes.
[0022] The invention will be explained in greater detail below with
reference to the fingers. The figures specifically show:
[0023] FIG. 1 A schematic, perspective view of a cutout of a
controlled temperature zone of a piece of sportswear
[0024] FIGS. 2 to 5 A respective top view of a controlled
temperature zone with controlled temperature elements in varying
configurations
[0025] FIG. 6 A schematic top view of a knitted controlled
temperature zone, and
[0026] FIG. 7 A perspective view of the controlled temperature zone
according to FIG. 1
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a controlled temperature zone 10.1 in a textile
fabric structure 11.1, wherein it can be a woven or a knitted
fabric. For example, the controlled temperature zone 10.1 is
arranged on a piece of sportswear, and there formed on the
respective body parts where especially profuse sweating takes place
during physical exercise.
[0028] In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the controlled
temperature zone 10.1 consists of a uniform arrangement of
individual controlled temperature elements 12.1. Each controlled
temperature element 12.1 in itself has at least one area in which
the woven or knitted fabric is less elastic and/or shirred by
shorter tension zones 15.1, thereby yielding a configuration shaped
like a U or V in cross section on the inside of the piece of
clothing to be facing the skin 200 of the wearer. This results in a
so-called web 14.1 on the inside of the textile fabric structure
11.1. Sweat is captured at the areas of the tip of the web 14.1
contacting the skin 200, and absorbed by the textile. Inner air
channels 13.1 are formed between the webs 14.1 contacting the skin
200, through which air can circulate over the skin surface.
[0029] The captured sweat is partially transported via the textile,
hygroscopic lateral walls of the webs 14.1 to the top side of the
controlled temperature zone 12.1 until into the surrounding areas
17.1 of the controlled temperature elements 12.1, which are kept a
specific distance away from the skin surface 200 by the webs 14.1.
The sweat can here evaporate especially well. The evaporative
cooling in turn cools the air in the inner air channels 13.1 lying
below the surrounding areas 17.1.
[0030] Channel-shaped structures arise on the rear face of the webs
14.1 and form outer air channels 18.1, through which evaporation
also takes place.
[0031] Because the outer air channels 18.1 are not completely
spanned by the tension zones 15.1, captured sweat can also
evaporate through them without heat accumulating at the controlled
temperature elements 12.1.
[0032] The controlled temperature elements 12.1 are arranged in the
textile fabric structure 11.1 in such a way as to establish two
essential directions, specifically a body axis X that runs
essentially vertically with the wearer in an upright posture and
corresponds to an air flow direction, and a direction transverse
thereto, which runs perpendicularly to the body axis or at an
obtuse angle thereto. In the transverse direction, the individual
controlled temperature elements 12.1 are separated from each other
by the surrounding areas 17.1, among which inner air channels 13.1
are formed. The webs 14.1 of adjacent controlled temperature
elements 12.1 are further separated from each other by separation
zones 16.1 in their extension in the transverse direction.
[0033] While the outer air channels 18.1 formed in the channels of
the shirred textile are also interrupted at the separation zones
16.1, there is a transverse connection joining together the
individual inner air channels 13.1 on the inside of the controlled
temperature zone 10.1, underneath these separation zones 16.1. The
separation zones 16.1 and inner air channels 13.1 are thus parts of
an air channel network, which is formed on the inner side of the
fabric structure 11.1 to be facing toward the body side of the
wearer.
[0034] The resultantly achieved effects will be explained below by
the respective top view of the different exemplary embodiments of
controlled temperature zones 10.2, . . . , 10.6 designed according
to the invention, which are depicted on FIGS. 2 to 6.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a cutout of a controlled temperature zone 10.2
according to another embodiment of the invention. The latter can be
formed directly on a textile fabric structure 11.2, from which the
adjoining areas of the piece of sportswear are also formed. The
controlled temperature zone 10.2 can also be fabricated separately,
and connected with the remaining areas of the piece of
sportswear.
[0036] FIG. 2 presents a view of the inside of the controlled
temperature zone 10.2 to be facing the skin. The dark areas are
provided for contacting the skin, while the light areas in between
maintain a distance from the skin surface when the piece of
clothing is worn with the controlled temperature zone 10.2. Several
rows of individual, respectively Y-shaped controlled temperature
elements 12.2 are arranged in the controlled temperature zone 10.2,
specifically in such a way that one of the legs of the Y-shaped
controlled temperature elements 12.2 is aligned in the vertical
direction, i.e., parallel to the body axis X. In addition, the row
of controlled temperature elements 12.2 is also shifted in the
transverse direction in adjacent rows of controlled temperature
elements 12.2. As a result, a collection area 19.2 for sweat drops
is always present anywhere that a separation point 16.2 between the
controlled temperature elements 12.2 exists in the overlying row,
and hence an inside air channel 13.2 is formed in between. In the
embodiment according to FIG. 2, the collection area 19.2 is formed
by the splayed legs of the Y-shaped controlled temperature elements
12.2. The thin, dash-dot lines with the upwardly pointing arrows
denote the so-called air flow direction, i.e., the path taken by
the air A warmed on the skin on the inner side of the textile
fabric structure 11.2 facing the skin. By contacting the skin, the
controlled temperature elements 12.2 shown as dark zones act as a
barrier, and cause the air flows to be diverted. As a result of the
arising chimney effect, the warm air is removed as it moves past
the obstacles and toward the top.
[0037] At the same time, sweat can trickle from the top down, as
represented by the thick, solid lines on the left of FIG. 2. Sweat
drops that arise directly in the area between adjacent controlled
temperature elements 12.2 run directly onto the underlying
controlled temperature element 12.2, which according to the
exemplary embodiment on FIG. 2 is achieved by the controlled
temperature elements 12.2 in the second and fourth row being
transversely offset relative to those in the first, third and fifth
rows. The effects of capturing the streaming sweat S and rising
warmed air A overlap everywhere; the paths of the sweat S and air A
are depicted on FIG. 2 in separate areas of the drawing for
illustrative purposes only.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a controlled temperature
zone 10.3 designed according to the invention. Here as well, the
paths of the sweat S are denoted on the left by thick, downwardly
pointing arrows, while the paths of air A are denoted on the right
by thin, dashed arrows and lines. The body axis once again runs
vertically. Respective rod-shaped controlled temperature elements
12.3 are arranged in the left and right areas of the controlled
temperature zone 10.3. The air A can once again rise through the
inner air channels 13.3 and separation zones between the controlled
temperature elements 12.3, 12.3'. Controlled temperature zones 12.3
are here arranged among each other in a V-shaped form in a central
zone. A sweat collection area 19.3 is formed inside of the
controlled temperature element 12.3 with a downwardly pointing tip.
In terms of the lateral, rod-shaped controlled temperature elements
12.3', the arrangement is such that the offset resulting in the
formation of a sweat collection zone 19.3' is not caused by
laterally offsetting the rows of controlled temperature elements
12.3, 12.3', but rather that the inclination and spacing of the
rod-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.3' are coordinated in
a way that sweat drops running by the respective upper ends of the
controlled temperature elements 12.2' are captured at a lower end
of an adjacent controlled temperature element 12.3'.
[0039] In principle, the illustration on FIG. 4 corresponds to the
illustrations described above with respect to the paths for the
sweat S and air A, as well as to the alignment of a controlled
temperature zone 10.4 in relation to a vertical body axis.
[0040] In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, individual rod-shaped
controlled temperature elements 12.4 are aligned one in back of the
other in their longitudinal extension, and are separated from each
other by separation zones 16.4 on the narrow sides. Several rows of
controlled temperature elements 12.4 are arranged one over the
other, wherein there are respective surrounding areas 17.4 between
the rows that form inner air channels 13.4 that run in a transverse
direction to the body axis. There is an offset of half a raster
width between the rows of controlled temperature elements 12.4 in
the transverse direction, so that sweat drops trickling down
through the separation zones 16.4 are caught in a collection area
19.4. The collection area 19.4 is formed by the respective
controlled temperature element 12.4 lying in the row thereunder and
arranged like a crossbeam.
[0041] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a controlled temperature
zone 10.5. The paths for the sweat and air are not depicted in this
case, since they also run the same as in the embodiments described
above. As illustrated by the exemplary embodiment of the controlled
temperature zone 10.5 according to FIG. 5, controlled temperature
elements 12.5 can also be arranged without a uniform raster. The
controlled temperature elements 12.5 on FIG. 5 each have varying
lengths per row, and the offset between the rows of controlled
temperature elements 12.5 among each other has no uniform measure
coupled to the length of the controlled temperature elements 12.5.
It is only essential that sweat collection areas 19.5 once again be
provided underneath a separation zone, which also forms an inner
air channel 13.5. FIG. 6 presents another top view of a controlled
temperature zone 10.6, which is arranged in a textile fabric
structure 11.6 designed as a knitted fabric. The step-shaped
structure depicted on FIG. 6 serves to illustrate the individual
meshes. Webs 14.6 and outer air channels 18.6 formed on their rear
face consist of 10 mesh rows, for example, while a tension zone
15.6 spanning the outer air channel 18.6 only has a width of three
mesh rows. The width of the outer air channels 18.6 can be
increased in a similar proportion by providing up to twenty five
mesh rows to form an outer air channel 18.6, while the tension
zones 15.6 spanning these areas have only about ten mesh rows,
thereby resulting in a shirring effect. Viewed in the longitudinal
extension of the outer air channels, the tension zones 15.6 have a
length of two to seven meshes, and are spaced apart from each other
by five to twenty meshes, thereby yielding non-spanned chambers
with a width of five to twenty meshes for the outer air channels
18.6. The parts of controlled temperature elements 12.6 arranged
one over the other and comprising the outer air channels 18.6 are
separated from each other by inner air channels 13.6 with a width
of four to thirty mesh rows.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a single controlled temperature element 12.1 in
a textile fabric structure 11.1 with its three-dimensional
structure as viewed in perspective on the exterior of the clothing.
As clearly depicted, no sharp boundary edges are present in a piece
of sportswear designed according to the invention, which only arise
graphically in the schematic illustrations on FIGS. 2 to 6. Readily
evident is the shirring of the textile woven or knit by the tension
zones 15.1 and the channel-shaped structure extending underneath,
which forms the so-called outer air channel 18.1.
REFERENCE LIST
[0043] 10.1 . . . 10.6 Controlled temperature zone [0044] 11.1 . .
. 11.6 Fabric structure [0045] 12.1 . . . 12.6 Controlled
temperature element [0046] 13.1 . . . 13.6 Inner air channel [0047]
14.1 . . . 14.6 Web [0048] 15.1 . . . 15.6 Tension zone [0049] 16.1
. . . 16.6 Separation zone [0050] 17.1 . . . 17.6 Surrounding areas
[0051] 18.1 . . . 18.6 Outer air channel [0052] 19.1 . . . 19.6
Sweat collection zone [0053] 200 Skin [0054] S Sweat [0055] A
Air
* * * * *