Multiple Face Fabric Towel

Abstract

A versatile fabric for use as a towel includes multiple surface areas that are formed of different materials. A support web has hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials woven therethrough. The hydrophilic material is interlaced with the web to define loops of material which extend from a first portion of the web surface and loops of material which extend from a second portion of the web surface which is longitudinally spaced from the first portion. Similarly, the hydrophobic material is interlaced with the web to define loops of material which extend from a third portion of the web surface and loops of material which extend from a fourth portion of the web surface which is longitudinally spaced from the third portion. The first and third portions of the support web surface are arranged opposite each other and the second and fourth portions of the support web surface are arranged opposite each other to define four surface portions of the fabric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a fabric according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and rear plan views, respectively, of a towel formed from the fabric shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show sectional views of different fabrics, respectively, according to the invention with terry and velour surfaces of the fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a longitudinal cross section of the fabric 2 according to the invention. The fabric includes a support web 4 formed by a plurality of picks 6 across which two warp ends 8, 10 are woven. In the drawing, the warp ends are woven around every third pick, although alternate weaving patterns may be used as is known in the art to form the web. The array of picks and warp ends defines the web 4 which has top and bottom surfaces.

An additional warp 12 of hydrophilic material is interlaced in the support web to define a plurality of loops 14 which extend from the top surface of the web. However, the loops do not extend along the entire top surface. Rather, in a transition area 16 of the support web, the warp of hydrophilic material is tightly woven to avoid any elongated loops. Continuing longitudinally of the web, the warp 12 is interlaced to define loops 18 of hydrophilic material which extend from the bottom surface of the web. The loops 14 and 18 thus define first 20 and second 22 surface areas, respectively, of the fabric which are spaced longitudinally and on opposite sides of the web.

A warp 24 of hydrophobic material is interlaced in the support web to define a plurality of loops 26 which extend from the bottom surface of the web opposite the loops 14 of hydrophilic material. In the transition area 16 of the support web, the warp 24 is tightly woven to avoid any elongated loops. Continuing longitudinally of the web, the warp 24 is interlaced to define loops 28 of hydrophobic material which extend from the top surface of the web opposite the loops 18 of hydrophilic material. The loops 26 and 28 thus define third 30 and fourth 32 surface areas, respectively of the fabric which are spaced longitudinally and on opposite sides of the web.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the opposite surfaces of the fabric showing the first 20, second 22, third 30 and fourth 32 surface areas relative to the transition area 16.

Hydrophilic materials absorb fluids while hydrophobic materials repel fluids. Suitable hydrophilic materials for the warp 12 are cellulosic or cotton materials. Suitable hydrophobic materials for the warp 24 are polyester, nylon, acrylic, or microfiber. By providing different materials for the warps and by weaving the warps into different areas on the surfaces of the support web, a fabric for making an article such as a towel or the like can be provided with surface portions having different characteristics to increase the use and versatility of the article as will be developed in greater detail below.

The surface texture of each area of the fabric is defined by the size and treatment of the loops. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a sectional view of a fabric 40 with loops 42 of the same size on opposite surfaces of the fabric. The uncut loops define a terry cloth surface which is suitable for moisture absorption or abrasive scrubbing. FIG. 5 shows a fabric 50 with loops 52 whose ends are cut so that the surfaces of the fabric have a velour finish which is typically softer than a terry finish and is suitable for buffing. In FIG. 6 is shown a fabric 60 having uncut loops 62 on one surface and cut loops 64 on the opposite surface to provide a fabric with different textures on either side.

The surface texture of the fabric can also be modified by providing loops of different length within a surface area. Referring to FIG. 2, the surface area 20 is formed with ribs 70 which are defined by providing alternating groups of short and long loops during weaving of the surface portion. A ribbed or otherwise sculptured fabric surface is suitable and desirable for scrubbing.

The appearance of the fabric can also be modified such as by dying the fabric. Because the hydrophobic material does not absorb fluids, when the fabric is passed through a bath of dye, only the hydrophilic material will absorb the dye. Thus, different surfaces of the fabric may be dyed.

It is also known in the art to provide images on a fabric surface, such by VTP Vapor Heat Transfer and/or Sublimation printing, pigment dye silk screen printing, wet process fiber reactive print, embroidery and/or applique.

Varying the size of the yarn used for the warp will alter the configuration of the fabric surface. Adjusting the yarn types or the amount of weft inserted yarns will affect the support web density and the amount of hydrophilic or hydrophobic yarns exposed to a source of moisture. This allows for various manufacturing possibilities for an article where abrasive surfaces can be made of one pick rate and an embellished face can be made of a different pick rate to produce different functional surfaces based on the density of the weft yarns in the support web.

Turning once again to FIGS. 2 and 3, a four surface fabric towel is provided wherein the first surface area 20 is formed of an absorbent cellulosic material which is woven or knitted with a ribbed construction for soft abrasive cleaning and drying action. It can be color coordinated with an embellishment on the third surface area 30. The area 30 comprises an embellishment face of relatively non-absorbent material using hydrophobic yarns. The embellishment can be provided via VTP Vapor Print Heat Transfer and/or sublimation printing, pigment dye silk screen printing, wet process fiber reactive printing, embroidery and/or applique. The second surface area 32 is a non-absorbent stain resistant and moisture wicking face which is woven or knitted using hydrophobic yarns. If desired, the face can be ribbed or otherwise sculptured (not shown) for aggressive abrasive cleaning action while wicking moisture to the cellulosic material on the surface 20 on the opposite side of the fabric. The fourth surface area 22 is a plain terry surface for non-linting drying and polishing for stainless steel or other high polishing painted surfaces. It may also be color coordinated with the surface area 32.

Although the preferred form of the invention provides four surfaces with two different materials provided on each surface, it will be readily apparent that alternate arrangements of the materials can be provided.

While the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.

Claims

1. A multi-surface fabric, comprising (a) a support web comprising a plurality of picks and a plurality of warps crossly wrapped around at least one of said picks, said support web having first and second surfaces on opposite sides thereof;(b) a hydrophilic material interlaced in said support web to define loops of hydrophilic material which extend from a first portion of said support web first surface and loops of hydrophilic material which extend from a second portion of said support web second surface, said first and second portions of said support web first and second surfaces being longitudinally spaced from one another;(c) a hydrophobic material interlaced in said support web to define loops of hydrophobic material which extend from a third portion of said support web first surface and loops of hydrophobic material which extend from a fourth portion of said support web, said third and fourth portions of said support web first and second surfaces being longitudinally spaced from one another, said first and third portions of said support web being arranged opposite to one another and said second and fourth portions of said support web being arranged opposite to one another to define four surface portions of the fabric.

2. A multi-surface fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein said loops on at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth portions are sheared to define a velour fabric.

3. A multi-surface fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic material comprises one of a polyester, nylon, acrylic and microfiber yarn.

4. A multi-surface fabric as defined in claim 3, wherein said hydrophilic material comprises one of a cellulosic and cotton yarn.

5. A multi-surface fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said third and fourth portions bears a decorative pattern.

6. A multi-surface fabric as defined in claim 5, wherein said decorative pattern is applied to one of said third and fourth portions by one of printing and embellishment.

7. A multi-surface fabric as defined in claim 6, wherein the other of said third and fourth portions has a sculptured construction.

8. A multi-surface fabric as defined in claim 7, wherein at least one of said first and second portions has a sculptured construction.

9. A method for making a multi-surface fabric, comprising the steps of (a) forming a support web from a plurality of picks and a plurality of warps crossly wrapped around at least one of said picks, said support web having first and second surfaces on opposite sides thereof;(b) weaving a hydrophilic material in said support web to define loops of hydrophilic material which extend from a first portion of said support web first surface and loops of hydrophilic material which extend from a second portion of said support web second surface, said first and second portions of said support web first and second surfaces being longitudinally spaced from one another;(c) weaving a hydrophobic material in said support web to define loops of hydrophobic material which extend from a third portion of said support web first surface and loops of hydrophobic material which extend from a fourth portion of said support web, said third and fourth portions of said support web first and second surfaces being longitudinally spaced from one another, said first and third portions of said support web being arranged opposite to one another and said second and fourth portions of said support web being arranged opposite to one another to define four surface portions of the fabric.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, and further comprising the step of shearing at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth portions to define a velour fabric.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said hydrophobic material comprises one of a polyester, nylon, acrylic and microfiber yarn.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said hydrophilic material comprises one of a cellulosic and cotton yarn.