In recent years, furniture manufacturers have begun to move away from using metal coils and other attachments in sofas, chairs, and beds. In lieu of these rigid and often problematic attachment and support structures, elastomeric textiles are being utilized more frequently. Elastomeric textiles can be cut to desired lengths and fastened easily with staples. The longitudinal stretch properties associated with these textiles offers an alternative means of attaching, securing, and supporting various portions of furniture pieces. However, because these textiles stretch longitudinally, fitting them to a particular application often involves a large amount of measuring, cutting, and disposing of waste material.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a laterally-stretchable knit fabric. In embodiments, the fabric includes an elastomeric segment extending longitudinally along the fabric that includes a plurality of walewise stitch-loop chains. The elastomeric segment also can include an elastomeric thread extending weftwise in successive courses back and forth across the segment. In embodiments, the elastomeric thread is held in place by one or more of the plurality of walewise stitch-loop chains.
Further embodiments of the present invention include methods for constructing a laterally-stretchable knit fabric. According to various embodiments, exemplary methods can include covering a first series of walewise threads with a first plurality of polyester weft yarns such that a first border segment is created that extends walewise along a first edge of the fabric and covering a second series of walewise threads with a second plurality of polyester weft yarns such that a second border segment is created that extends walewise along a second edge of the fabric. In embodiments, exemplary methods of construction further include creating a series of walewise stitch-loop chains such that an elastomeric segment is created that extends walewise along the fabric between the first and second border segments and extending an elastomeric thread back and forth across the elastomeric segment in substantially parallel successive courses.
Additional embodiments of the invention include a laterally-stretchable warp knit fabric having three or more segments. In embodiments, the fabric includes a first segment extending longitudinally along a first side of the fabric and is composed of a first plurality of walewise parallel stitch-loop chains and filling yarn extending weftwise across the first plurality of walewise parallel stitch-loop chains. A second segment can be disposed longitudinally adjacent to the first segment and can include a plurality of walewise stitch-loop chains. In embodiments, a third segment extends longitudinally adjacent to the second segment and includes a third plurality of walewise parallel stitch-loop chains and filling yarn extending weftwise across the third plurality of walewise parallel stitch-loop chains. Additionally, embodiments of the fabric include an elastomeric thread extending weftwise in successive courses back and forth across the fabric.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following description, drawings, and the claims.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
Turning now to the drawings, which are not represented in scale, but rather to clearly show the various embodiments and constructions,
In embodiments, for example, the border segments 11 and 14 can be used for attaching the fabric 10 on one side to a seat decking assembly and on the opposite side to a rail or other structure that couples the fabric to a frame of a seating product such as, for example, is described in U.S. Application No. 61/149,938, filed Feb. 4, 2009. Additionally, according to various embodiments, as illustrated in
According to embodiments of the invention, the fabric 10 can include any number of segments. For example, in some embodiments, the fabric 10 includes two border segments 11 and 14 and a number of additional, elastomeric, segments disposed there-between. In other embodiments, the fabric 10 is made of only a single segment, which may have a uniform or varied elasticity throughout.
According to embodiments, the fabric 10 is laterally-stretchable. That is, in contrast with traditional longitudinal (walewise) stretching products, the fabric 10 stretches in the lateral (i.e., weftwise) direction 15. The lateral stretchability of the fabric 10 allows for rolls of the fabric 10 to be produced such that lengths of the fabric can be cut and disposed between components of a seating product without wasting large amounts of fabric in cuttings produced while fitting the textile borders to the other components. In some embodiments, the elasticity of the second segment 13 is greater than the elasticity of either of the outside segments 11 and 14. In other embodiments, all three segments 11, 13, and 14 have similar degrees of elasticity.
Turning now to
In
With continued reference to
Turning to
As is further shown in
Turning now to
As illustrated in
With continued reference to
The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope. For example, some embodiments can include modifications to the construction of the fabric to provide for more or less elasticity. For example, one embodiment further comprises pre-stretching the elastomeric thread before constructing the fabric. Other embodiments comprise applying a predetermined amount of tension to the elastomeric thread while constructing said fabric.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages which are obvious and inherent to the system and method. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/149,938, filed Feb. 4, 2009, titled “Textile-Attached Seating System.”
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2153645 | Schonfeld | Apr 1939 | A |
2936603 | Lewine | May 1960 | A |
3552155 | Hartung | Jan 1971 | A |
3567565 | Jones et al. | Mar 1971 | A |
3570482 | Emoto et al. | Mar 1971 | A |
3625029 | Safrit et al. | Dec 1971 | A |
3656324 | Jackson | Apr 1972 | A |
3733859 | Wittmann | May 1973 | A |
3965703 | Barnhardt | Jun 1976 | A |
3981415 | Fowler et al. | Sep 1976 | A |
3999407 | Odham | Dec 1976 | A |
4003224 | Odham | Jan 1977 | A |
4009597 | Wall et al. | Mar 1977 | A |
4044575 | Krug | Aug 1977 | A |
4103485 | Brues | Aug 1978 | A |
4244199 | Rhode | Jan 1981 | A |
4248064 | Odham | Feb 1981 | A |
4378683 | Matsuda et al. | Apr 1983 | A |
4733545 | Weinle et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
4818316 | Weinle et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
5125246 | Shytles | Jun 1992 | A |
5265445 | Shytles et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5457968 | McClintock et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5522240 | Wall et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
6446471 | Kaplancali | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6516637 | Fancher et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6722164 | Ives et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6840066 | Dickerson | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6984596 | Dickerson | Jan 2006 | B2 |
7555922 | Berlin | Jul 2009 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20100192638 A1 | Aug 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61149938 | Feb 2009 | US |