1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fabric structure, and more particularly to a fabric structure having a heating function or a heat-retaining function.
2. Description of Related Art
Under the trend of globalization, the textile industry is facing severe competition, and textile manufacturers have to continue researching and developing new technology and diversified products to keep up with the worldwide competition. In order to satisfy diversified demands from consumers, a plurality of multi-functional fabric products are already available in the market, such as water-proof fabrics, warmth-retentive fabrics, or electrothermal fabrics.
A general electrothermal fabric has a structure including a surface layer, a heating layer, and a heat-insulating layer. A manufacturing process of the electrothermal fabric includes first weaving or knitting the surface layer, the heating layer, and the heat-insulating layer and assembling the surface layer, the heating layer, and the heat-insulating layer by performing a sewing process or an adhering process, such that the heating layer is sandwiched between the surface layer and the heat-insulating layer.
However, the manufacturing method of normal electrothermal fabrics requires one more sewing or adhering process to stack the three layers, and the sewing or adhering process is likely to allow air to exist between every two of the three layers, which results in air layers. The thermal conductivity of air is lower than the thermal conductivity of a normal surface layer, a normal heating layer, or a normal heat-insulating layer, and therefore the air layers reduce the thermal conductivity of the electrothermal fabrics. Moreover, when the surface layer, the heating layer and the heat-insulating layer are sewn together, the air layers distributed between every two of the three layers are likely to be distributed unevenly, such that uniformity of the thermal conductivity is affected, and that the temperature distribution of the electrothermal fabric is also uneven.
The invention is directed to a fabric structure capable of performing a heating function or a heat-retaining function by changing yarn coverage ratios of fabric layers in the fabric structure.
The invention provides a fabric structure that includes a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, a plurality of conductive yarns, and a plurality of connecting yarns. A yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer ranges from about 90% to about 100%. A yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer ranges from about 90% to about 100%. The conductive yarns are distributed between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The connecting yarns interlace the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, such that the conductive yarns are sandwiched between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The conductive yarns and the connecting yarns are not interlaced.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a total thickness of the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the connecting yarns ranges from about 3 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a characteristic thermal insulation value (CLO) of the fabric structure ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.15.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are heat transfer fabric layers.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer is different from the yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer is substantially the same as the yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the connecting yarns are integrally woven or knitted.
The invention also provides a fabric structure that includes a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, a plurality of conductive yarns, and a plurality of connecting yarns. A yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer is less than 80%. A yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer ranges from about 90% to about 100%. The conductive yarns are distributed between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The connecting yarns interlace the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, such that the conductive yarns are sandwiched between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The conductive yarns and the connecting yarns are not interlaced.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a total thickness of the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the connecting yarns ranges from about 3 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.
According to an embodiment of the invention, CLO of the fabric structure ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.15.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fabric layer is a heat-insulating fabric layer, and the second fabric layer is a heat transfer fabric layer.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the connecting yarns are integrally woven or knitted.
The invention further provides a fabric structure that includes a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, a plurality of conductive yarns, and a plurality of connecting yarns. A yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer is less than 80%. A yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer is less than 80%. The conductive yarns are distributed between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The connecting yarns interlace the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer, such that the conductive yarns are sandwiched between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. The conductive yarns and the connecting yarns are not interlaced.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a total thickness of the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the connecting yarns ranges from about 3 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.
According to an embodiment of the invention, CLO of the fabric structure ranges from about 0.15 to about 0.25.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are heat-insulating fabric layers.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer is different from the yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer is substantially the same as the yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the connecting yarns are integrally woven or knitted.
Based on the above, the fabric structure of the invention is capable of performing a heating function or a heat-retaining function by changing the yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer and the yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer.
In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In particular, according to this embodiment, the total thickness of the first fabric layer 110a, the second fabric layer 120a, and the connecting yarns 140 ranges from about 3 millimeters to about 20 millimeters, for instance. The conductive yarns 130 distributed between the first fabric layer 110a and the second fabric layer 120a are, for example, flexible metal wires with insulating sheath which are warped because of gravity. When an electric current passes through the conductive yarns 130, heat is generated simultaneously, and the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 is transmitted through yarns of the first fabric layer 110a and/or yarns of the second fabric layer 120a. Specifically, the first fabric layer 110a of this embodiment functions as a heat transfer fabric layer, for instance. That is to say, the first fabric layer 110a is suitable for rapidly transmitting the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 to external surroundings whose temperature is lower than the fabric structure 100a. The heat transfer directions can be referred to as the direction L1 of the arrow shown in
The second fabric layer 120a of this embodiment functions as a heat transfer fabric layer as well, for instance. Namely, the second fabric layer 120a is suitable for rapidly transmitting the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 to external surroundings whose temperature is lower than the fabric structure 100a. The heat transfer direction can be referred to as the direction L2 of the arrow shown in
Besides, in this embodiment, the fabric structure 100a is integrally knitted. The peak loops 112a, 122a, 112b, 122b, 112c, and 122c are sequentially interlocked by a connecting yarn 140, and the conductive yarns 130 are sandwiched between the first fabric layer 110a and the second fabric layer 120a. Although only six peak loops 112a, 112b, 112c, 122a, 122b and 122c are enumerated above for illustration, people having ordinary skill in the art can infer the sequence in which the connecting yarns 140 and the other peak loops are interlocked, and thus relevant descriptions of the other peak loops are omitted herein. Through the interlacing method described above, the first fabric layer 110a, the second fabric layer 120a, and the conductive yarns 130 are closely stacked together, and air existing among the first fabric layer 110a, the second fabric layer 120a, and the conductive yarns 130 is reduced, so as to enhance the thermal conductivity of the fabric structure 100a.
Note that the types of the fabric structure 100a is not limited in the invention. The fabric structure 100a herein is formed by integrally knitting the first fabric layer 110a, the second fabric layer 120a, and the connecting yarns 140. However, in other embodiments of the invention, as shown in
To sum up, the fabric structures 100a, 100a′, and 100a″ in these embodiments are made by integrally knitting or weaving the first fabric layer 110a, the second fabric layer 120a, and the connecting yarns 140. The first fabric layer 110a, the second fabric layer 120a, and the conductive yarns 130 are closely stacked together by interlacing the connecting yarns 140 and the first and the second fabric layers 110a and 120a. The conventional fabric structure is formed by stacking the three layers through additionally performing a sewing process or an adhering process. By contrast, this process can be reduced during fabrication of the fabric structures 100a, 100a′, and 100a″ as described in these embodiments, thus saving the manufacturing time and costs. Moreover, the air existing among the layers is also reduced during the stacking process, so as to enhance the efficiency of thermal conductivity and the uniformity of temperature distribution.
Other fabric structures having the fabric layers with different yarn coverage ratios are exemplified in the following embodiments of the invention.
In detail, the first fabric layer 110b of this embodiment is a heat-insulating fabric layer, for instance. That is to say, the first fabric layer 110b is suitable for preventing the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 from being transmitted to external surroundings, so as to avoid heat loss. The second fabric layer 120b is a heat transfer fabric layer, for instance. That is to say, the second fabric layer 120b is suitable for rapidly transmitting the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 to external surroundings. The heat-transmitting direction can be referred to as the direction L3 of the arrow shown in
In detail, the first fabric layer 110c of this embodiment is a heat-insulating fabric layer. That is to say, the first fabric layer 110c is suitable for preventing the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 from being transmitted to external surroundings, so as to avoid heat loss. The second fabric layer 120c of this embodiment is a heat-insulating fabric layer as well, for instance. That is to say, the second fabric layer 120c is suitable for preventing the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 from being transmitted to external surroundings, so as to avoid heat loss. Note that the yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer 110c can be different from or substantially the same as the yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer 120c, which should not be construed as a limitation to this invention.
When an electric current passes through the conductive yarns 130, heat is generated simultaneously, and the heat generated by the conductive yarns 130 is not transmitted through yarns of the first fabric layer 110c or yarns of the second fabric layer 120c. That is to say, the yarns of the first fabric layer 110c and the second fabric layer 120c respectively form a thermal insulator. Hence, when the temperature of the external substance or air temperature is lower than the temperature of the fabric structure 100c, and the external substance or the air is in contact with the fabric structure 100c, heat exchange between the substance or the air and the fabric structure 100c can be reduced by means of the first fabric layer 110c and the second fabric layer 120c, such that the fabric structure 100c can retain the heat. In addition, the CLO of the fabric structure 100c in this embodiment ranges from about 0.15 to about 0.25.
To sum up, the higher the yarn coverage ratios of the fabric layers (e.g., the first and the second fabric layers 110a and 120a or the second fabric layer 120a alone) are (i.e., the higher the pick count of weaving/knitting is), the easier the heat is transmitted within the fabric layers of the fabric structure, such that the temperature of the fabric layers rises. As such, the fabric structure (e.g., the fabric structures 100a, 100a′, 100a″, and 100b) can achieve the heating function. From another perspective, the lower the yarn coverage ratios of the fabric layers (e.g., the first and the second fabric layers 110a and 120a) are (i.e., the lower the pick count of weaving/knitting is), the more the air exists within the fabric layers of the fabric structure. Since the thermal conductivity of the air is smaller than that of the yarns of the fabric layers, the air impedes heat transmission within the fabric layers of the fabric structure. Accordingly, the temperature of the fabric layers is not apt to rise, and the fabric structure (e.g., the fabric structure 100c) can achieve the heat-retaining function.
As shown in
In light of the foregoing, the fabric structure of the invention is made by integrally knitting or weaving the first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the connecting yarns. The first fabric layer, the second fabric layer, and the conductive yarns are closely stacked together by interlacing the connecting yarns and the first and the second fabric layers. The conventional fabric structure is formed by stacking the three layers through additionally performing a sewing process or an adhering process. By contrast, this process can be reduced during fabrication of the fabric structure of the invention, thus saving the manufacturing time and costs. Moreover, the air existing among the layers is also reduced during the stacking process, so as to enhance the efficiency of thermal conductivity and the uniformity of temperature distribution. Further, the fabric structure of the invention is capable of performing a heating function or a heat-retaining function by changing the yarn coverage ratio of the first fabric layer and the yarn coverage ratio of the second fabric layer. As such, applicability of the invention can be extended.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed descriptions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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97149763 A | Dec 2008 | TW | national |
This is a continuation-in-part application of patent application Ser. No. 12/345,594, filed on Dec. 29, 2008, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 97149763, filed on Dec. 19, 2008. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12345594 | Dec 2008 | US |
Child | 12948781 | US |