Various embodiments of the invention relate generally to a fabric containing a thermoplastic fusible yarn, a process of making a fabric containing a thermoplastic fusible yarn, and a fabric article formed with a fabric containing a thermoplastic fusible yarn.
A fabric is provided containing a thermoplastic fusible yarn, which, in a preferable embodiment, is not bonded to adjacent yarns in the finished fabric. The fabric can be a woven, knitted or lace fabric that contains a thermoplastic fusible yarn, such as, but not limited to an Elastane yarn, or a GrilonĀ® yarn. The thermoplastic fusible yarn is preferably knitted or woven with other yarns during manufacture of the fabric. For example, the thermoplastic fusible yarn can replace one of the warp and/or weft yarns in the fabric. Additionally or alternatively, the thermoplastic fusible yarn can be knitted or woven throughout the fabric or in one or more localized patterns in the fabric. The thermoplastic fusible yarns allow for attaching one fabric to another fabric with the application of heat to melt and/or fuse the thermoplastic fusible yarn, which eliminates the need for a stitched seam.
A process is provided for making a fabric containing a thermoplastic fusible yarn. It is preferred that during manufacture of the fabric containing the thermoplastic fusible yarn, the thermoplastic fusible yarn is not exposed to a temperature sufficient to soften or melt the thermoplastic fusible yarn. So, for example, manufacturing of the fabric is preferably carried out at temperatures below the softening/melting point of the thermoplastic fusible yarn. In the finished fabric, the thermoplastic fusible yarn is preferably not bonded to adjacent yarns of the fabric.
After the fabric containing the thermoplastic fusible yarn has been made, the fabric and/or the thermoplastic fusible yarn contained therein is then exposed to a temperature sufficient to soften/melt the thermoplastic fusible yarn to allow the fabric to be bonded to another fabric, or to another portion of the same fabric. That is, when the thermoplastic fusible yarn is melted or fused, the fabric can be bonded to another separate fabric or another portion of the same fabric without the need for separate stitching.
A fabric article is also provided which contains one or more fabrics, wherein at least one of the fabrics is woven or knitted with a thermoplastic fusible yarn and the thermoplastic fusible yarn is fused and bonded to another portion of the woven or knitted fabric or another fabric forming a stitchless joint.
For the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an illustrative form, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown by the drawings in which:
The fabric material 10 preferably comprises one or more thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 integrated in the fabric material 10. In the example shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 in the fabric material 10 are not thermoplastically bonded to any other yarns (e.g., adjacent non-thermoplastic fusible yarns 18) in the fabric material 10. For example, the manufacture processes of the fabric material 10 is preferably performed at a temperature below the melting temperature of the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 to avoid the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 being melted and bonded to their adjacent yarns in the fabric material 10.
In the post manufacturing process, for example when forming a fabric article using the fabric material 10, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be bonded to another fabric with the application of heat to melt the thermoplastic fusible yarn 16, thereby eliminating the need for a stitched seam between the two pieces of fabric. It should be noted that a fabric article may, after the manufacturing process of the fabric material 10 is complete, be formed by bonding one portion of the fabric material 10 to another portion of the fabric material 10, in which case bonding would take place between thermoplastic fusible yarns of the material and non-thermoplastic fusible yarns of the same material.
Various thermoplastic materials can be used to form the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16. Exemplary thermoplastic materials can include, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, polyhydrocarbon (e,g., polyolefin), polyurethane or a copolymer of one or more thereof, such as Elastane. For example, the thermoplastic fusible yarn may be a GrilonĀ® yarn, or an Elastane yarn.
The thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be in various forms. For example, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be formed to have different length or thickness. In one example, the thermoplastic fusible yarn 16 is continuous throughout the entire length or width of the fabric material 10. In another example, the thermoplastic fusible yarn 16 can have a shortened length and formed in a localized area of the fabric material 10 in a discontinuous manner (see
The thermoplastic fusible yarn 16 can be formed in the fabric material 10 in various ways during the manufacture of the fabric material 10. For example, the thermoplastic fusible yarn 16 can be knitted or woven with other yarns during manufacture of the fabric material 10. In one example, each thermoplastic fusible yarn 16 can replace one of the warp and/or weft yarns used to weave the fabric material 10. In another example, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be woven together with one or more of the warp and/or weft yarns to form an integral fabric material 10. For example, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be woven with all the warp and/or the weft yarns and formed throughout the fabric material 10. Alternatively, the thermoplastic fusible yarn 16 can be formed in one or more isolated locations in the fabric material 10, such as along the edges 14 of the fabric material 10 shown in
The thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be formed in various patterns. In the example shown in
Additionally or alternatively, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be formed in other locations on the fabric material 10. In the example shown in
Although
The fabric material 10 can be formed to facilitate the formation of a finished fabric article 20. In one example, the fabric material 10, or its fabric units 10a, can be configured into various shapes to accommodate a particular portion that the finished fabric article 20 is intended to fit. For example, the fabric units 10a are shaped to be used in a garment and will support the user's abdomen. In another example, the non-thermoplastic fusible yarns 18 in the fabric material 10 can be formed of an elastic material so that the finished fabric material 10 can be at least partially stretchable. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the fabric material 10 can be formed in various other shapes and forms for use in various fabric articles 20.
In one example, the fabric material 10 can be attached to another similarly formed fabric material 10. The thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 in both fabric materials 10 can be used to join the two fabric materials 10 when forming a fabric article 20, resulting in a stronger stitchless joint 24 to enhance the bonding between the two fabric materials 10.
The fabric article 20 can also be formed with both stitchless joints 24 and stitched seams. In such a case, the stitchless joints 24 and the stitched seams can afford different aesthetic appeals to the finished fabric article 20.
The web material 24 can be formed to have either single layer structure or a multi-layer structure with a plurality of fabric materials 10 overlapping one another. Although the web material 20 in
In the example shown in
Additionally or alternatively, the lace trim 10 can have its other longitudinal edge 14c formed in a curvy configuration to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the brassiere 26. After the curvy edge 14c is formed on the lace trim 10, heat can be applied to the curvy edge 14c to melt and fuse the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 formed along the edge 14c to seal the same.
The method of making the fabric material 10 will next be described in more details.
The fabric material 10 is preferably formed by weaving or knitting one or more thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 together with other yarns 18, such as non-thermoplastic fusible yarns. For example, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be combined with or used as the warp and/or weft threads during the weaving process for making the fabric material 10. In the fabric material 10 so formed, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 are present throughout the fabric material 10. Alternatively, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be selectively combined with the warp and/or weft threads during the weaving process. The fabric material 10 so formed can have thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 isolated in one or more localized areas in the fabric material 10. In one example, the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 can be in any of various patterns, including those shown in
The woven or knitted fabric material 10 is preferably subjected to additional fabric processing, including bleaching, dyeing, drying, etc. The various processing steps are preferably carried out at a temperature below the softening/melting point of the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 so that the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 are not melted or bonded to adjacent yarns in the finished fabric material 10. The finished fabric material 10 can thus afford a soft feel, as is provided by individual yarns including thermoplastic fusible yarns 16. Additionally or alternatively, as the thermoplastic fusible yarns 16 are not melted during the fabric manufacture, they can be more readily melted and fused for attaching to another fabric 22 to form various fabric articles 20.
While the foregoing description and drawings represent examples of embodiments, it will be understood that various additions, modifications, and substitutions may be made therein as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, materials can be used without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/971,785, filed Sep. 12, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60971785 | Sep 2007 | US |