STRETCHABLE FABRICS AND PROTECTIVE GLOVES FORMED THEREOF, INCLUDING WITH TOUCH SCREEN COMPATIBILITY

Abstract

A stretchable fabric has first and opposite second surfaces, the first, outer surface including filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarns of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high modulus and high tenacity, and the second, inner surface having a raised surface. Garments, e.g. gloves, formed of the fabric have relatively high cut and/or abrasion resistance and/or flame resistance. Gloves having defined regions containing electrically conductive elements in at least the first, outer surface layer additionally have capacitive touch screen compatibility.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to stretchable fabrics and work wear garments, such as gloves, including touch screen compatible gloves, made from such stretchable fabrics.

BACKGROUND

Fabrics having features of body-hugging, 4-way stretch and breathability, e.g., Polartec® Power Stretch® fabrics, available from Polartec, LLC, of Lawrence, Mass. U.S.A, are suitable for use in outdoor and fitness clothing or other types of garments, such as gloves. Garments made of such fabrics can be worn next to the skin of wearer and can keep the wearer dry from sweat and provide the wearer with warmth and comfort. The wearer can move flexibly without substantial restriction from the garments. The garments can also be wind and abrasion resistant.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure provides a fabric comprising a stretchable fabric body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the stretchable fabric body comprising an elastomeric fiber, the first surface comprising filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high modulus and high tenacity, and the second surface being a raised surface comprising loop yarns.

Implementations of this aspect of the disclosure may include one or more of the following additional features. For example, at least the first surface comprises flame retardant filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns. The loop yarns of the second surface comprise flame retardant filaments and/or yarns, e.g. loop yarns comprising non-melt non-drip filaments and/or yarns. The filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high modulus have a modulus of at least about 425 gdp. The filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns of the first surface comprise p-aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns. The filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high tenacity have tenacity over about 6 gdp, e.g. over about 10 gdp, or, e.g. over about 20 gdp. The stretchable fabric body has a single face plaited construction having a technical face defining the first surface and an opposite technical back defining the second surface, the single face plaited construction comprising a single face plaited terry sinker loop construction having the technical face defining the first surface and the opposite technical back defining the second surface, the technical face defining the first surface comprising a smooth jersey construction and the technical back defining the second surface comprising raised terry sinker loop yarns. The first surface exhibits cut resistance. The raised surface is velour. The raised surface comprises first regions of raised pillars having a first pile height and second regions having a second pile height, or no pile height, lower than the first pile height, the second regions forming interconnected channels separating the first regions. The fabric body has 4-way stretch. The fabric body has an air permeability of less than about 200 ft³/ft²/min, e.g., less than about 100 ft³/ft²/min, tested according to ASTM D-737 under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.

Another aspect of the disclosure features a glove comprising a fabric comprising a stretchable fabric body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the stretchable fabric body comprising an elastomeric fiber, the first surface comprising fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity, and the second surface being a raised surface and comprising loop yarns; an inner surface of the glove facing a skin surface of a wearer being the second surface of the fabric body, and an outer surface of the glove facing away from the skin of the wearer being the first surface of the fabric body.

Implementations of this aspect of the disclosure may include one or more of the following additional features. For example, the high modulus fibers/yarns have a modulus of at least about 425 gdp. The high modulus fibers/yarns in the first surface comprise p-aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The tenacity is over about 6 gdp, e.g. over about 10 gdp, or, e.g. over about 20 gdp.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a capacitive touch screen compatible glove, comprising a plaited terry sinker loop knit construction fabric defining a glove, the fabric comprising a stretchable fabric body comprising elastomeric fibers and having, e.g., a technical face layer defining a first, smooth surface comprising fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity and forming an outer surface of the glove, a technical back layer defining an opposite, second, raised surface and forming an inner surface of the glove, and an interface region where yarns of the technical face layer and yarns of the technical back layer are intimately plaited together, and at least the technical face layer comprising defined regions containing electrically conductive elements disposed for exposure to ambient environment at the first, smooth surface, whereby, when a glove wearer applies a defined region of the glove fabric to an opposed region of a touch screen of a capacitive touch screen device, including with very low pressure, electrical conductivity of the wearer's body is conducted by the defined region of the fabric to the opposed region of the touch screen in a manner to create a desired distortion of the touch screen electrostatic field.

Implementations of this aspect of the disclosure may include one or more of the following additional features. For example, the electrically conductive elements disposed for exposure to ambient environment at the first, smooth surface are plaited over the fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity. The electrically conductive elements disposed for exposure to ambient environment at the first, smooth surface comprise a coating of conductive polymer over the fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity. The technical face layer and the technical back layer comprise corresponding defined regions containing electrically conductive elements disposed in an electrically conductive relationship. The technical face layer and the technical back layer comprise corresponding defined regions containing electrically conductive elements disposed in an electrically conductive relationship. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove comprises a pair of touch screen compatible gloves. The fabric of the glove is thermally insulating. Additional surfaces of the glove, beyond index fingertip surfaces, are similarly compatible for operation of a touch screen of a capacitive touch screen device. The additional surfaces of the glove comprise one or more surfaces selected from among, e.g., other fingertip surfaces, thumb tip surfaces, knuckle surfaces, hand palm surfaces, and back-of-the hand surfaces. The inner surface of the glove has a velour finish. The inner surface of the glove has a raised grid finish, comprising discrete pillar regions of raised pile, surrounded by intersecting channels of low pile or no pile. At least one of the technical face layer and the technical back layer comprises elastomeric elements. The elastomeric elements have predetermined size of about 20 denier to about 150 denier. The elastomeric elements are incorporated on every course, or repeat at every other course, or at every “X” course, where “X” is any integer. The elastomeric elements are plaited under jersey yarn on the technical back layer. The electrically conductive elements have an electrical resistivity of about 1×10⁷ Ohms/cm or less, e.g. about 1×10⁵ Ohms/cm or less. The electrically conductive elements are in the form of conductive yarns. The electrically conductive elements are in the form of conductive fiber blends. The electrically conductive elements are spaced apart, e.g. by insulating, nonconductive yarns in the defined regions of at least the technical face, in a predetermined distribution. The predetermined distribution is a pattern extending across a width of a finger of the glove. The predetermined distribution is a pattern extending along a length of a finger of the glove. One or more electrically conductive elements comprise wires extending across the width or along the length of one or more glove fingers and/or thumb, and the electrically conductive elements are incorporated by cut-and-sew fabrication techniques.

Implementations can include one or more of the following advantages. In some implementations, the stretchable fabrics offer increased wind breaking and thermal insulation during periods of relative inactivity by the wearer, and increased air permeability, which promotes convective heat transfer and moisture evaporation, during the periods of wearer activity. Channels, e.g. intersecting channels, can be provided along the inner surface (i.e., the technical back) of the fabric to facilitate moisture evaporation and/or convective heat transfer during wearer activity. The stretch and light weight of the fabrics can provide the wearer with overall comfort.

In some implementations, the stretchable fabrics can have an outer surface (i.e., the technical face) that is cut and/or abrasion resistant. Such fabrics can be employed for garments worn in harsh work environments, such as meat cutting, metal cutting, metal grinding, metal welding, glass cutting, various assembly lines, construction, industrial maintenance, and others. The fabrics can also be flame retardant, and can also be suitable for use in garments worn under fire hazard and military or law enforcement conditions.

In some implementations, work wear gloves can be made from stretchable fabrics of the disclosure. In use, the gloves can fit snugly onto a wearer's hands, e.g., taking advantage of the stretch of the fabric. The gloves can be relatively thin and light weight, providing the wearer with comfort, good dexterity, tactility, and a secure grip on items to be handled by the wearer. The work wear glove outer surface (i.e., the fabric technical face of the stretchable fabric) has high cut and/or abrasion resistance, so the gloves can protect a wearer's hands, and also withstand hard use and wear-and-tear for extended periods of use, even in harsh work environments. The inner surface of the work wear glove (i.e. the technical back of the stretchable fabric) has a raised surface that provides comfort, warmth, and heat dissipating and cooling effects, e.g., effective and rapid sweat removal (wicking) and/or drying to the user. The gloves can also be flame resistant to further protect a wearer's hand under harsh work environments, including, e.g., those involving fire hazard. The gloves can also be constructed to permit actuation of capacitive touch screens while being worn in cold weather conditions. Other aspects, features, and advantages are in the description, drawings, and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a fabric of the disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a raised surface of the fabric of FIG. 1A (i.e., the technical back); and

FIG. 1C is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view of the fabric of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a front (palm side) perspective view of a pair of gloves of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the pair of gloves of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic edge section view of a representative fabric incorporated into gloves of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another glove of this disclosure, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are somewhat schematic views of alternative inner fabric surfaces of gloves of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side section view of capacitive touch screen device being operated by a user wearing a glove of this disclosure, e.g. having enhanced cut and/or abrasion resistance, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are much enlarged, somewhat schematic edge section views of alternative implementations of electrically conductive fabric incorporated the glove of this disclosure during operation of the touch screen device.

FIG. 8 is a front (palm side) perspective view of another capacitive touch screen compatible glove of the disclosure, with one or more electrically conduct elements incorporated by cut-and-sew techniques and extending across the width of one or more of the fingers and or thumb.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1A, a stretchable fabric 10 includes a knit fabric body 12 having a technical back, B, with a raised surface 14 (see, e.g., FIG. 1B) and a technical face, F, with a smooth (jersey) surface 16. When the stretchable fabric 10 is incorporated into a garment, the technical back, B, defines an inner surface 34 of the garment, to face the skin of a wearer, and the technical face, F, forms an outer surface 32 of the garment, to face outward, away from the skin of the wearer.

The stretchable fabric 10 is a body-huggable, 4-way stretch fabric that is breathable and provides warmth and comfort to the wearer of garments made from such fabrics 10. In some implementations, the stretchable fabric 10 has stretch of at least about 120%, e.g., about 122%, in the lengthwise (wale-wise) direction (i.e., a direction perpendicular to the individual courses of the knit fabric), and stretch of at least about 150%, e.g., about 155%, in the widthwise (course-wise) direction (i.e., a direction perpendicular to the individual wales of the knit fabric). The fabric 10 can be relatively thin, and/or relatively lightweight, e.g., having a weight of about 2.0 oz./yd.² to about 10.0 oz./yd.².

In some implementations, the knit fabric body 12 has a single face plaited construction, e.g., a single face plaited terry sinker loop construction. The raised surface 14 of the technical back, B, can be formed of loop yarns, e.g., terry sinker loop yarns, and the smooth surface 16 of the technical face, F, can be formed of stitch yarns. The raised surface 14 of the technical back, F, can have various features. For example, referring to FIG. 1B, the loop yarn of the technical back, F, may be formed into discrete pillar regions 18 of relatively high pile that are spaced apart and isolated from each other by regions 20 of relatively shorter pile and/or no pile. The regions 20 form intersecting channels (e.g., vertical and horizontal channels 22, 24) among, e.g. surrounding, the discrete pillar regions 18. In the example shown in the figures, the configuration of the regions 18, 20 is a grid. The regions 18, 20 can be arranged to provide other configurations. In some implementations, the pillar regions 18 can provide comfortable contact with the skin of the wearer. A wide variety of pillar and channel and other configurations and/or dimensions may be employed in region 20.

When used in a garment, e.g. gloves, the features of the fabric technical back, B, provide enhanced warmth to the wearer and achieve good heat dissipation and cooling effects. In particular, the intersecting channels 22, 24 facing the skin of the wearer can allow air to flow between the inner surface of the fabric body 12 and the surface of the wearer's skin, serving to wick away sweat from the skin surface, e.g., as generated during activity by the wearer, such as exercise or work. The wicked sweat passes through the fabric body 12 to be dried quickly by evaporation at the exposed outer surface 16 of the fabric. The intersecting channels 22, 24 also maintain a cushion of air along the wearer's skin surface for added warmth, e.g., during periods of relative inactivity by the wearer, and/or for enhanced convective heat transfer, e.g., during the physical activity by the wearer.

The heat dissipating and cooling effects provided by the features of the fabric technical back, B, are further enhanced by the elastic stretchability of the fabric body 12. For example, when the wearer is active and the fabric body 12 is stretched by physical movements, interstices between yarns of the fabric construction are opened, allowing air to pass through the fabric body 12. The stretching is elastic, so that as the wearer returns to inactivity, the fabric body 12 returns towards its unstretched state and provides good thermal insulation and warmth to the wearer, with decreased air permeability. In this manner, the textile fabric 10 of the disclosure can dynamically adapt to changing thermal requirements of the wearer over time, e.g., during periods of the activity and inactivity by the wearer.

The raised surface 14 of the technical back, B, can also have features in addition to (or other than) the features of FIG. 1B. For example, referring to FIG. 1C, the raised surface 14 of the technical back, B, may be a velour. The velour surface can provide warmth to the wearer and also a more comfortable touch to a wearer's skin. For example, air can be trapped within the velour yarns or fibers of the inner surface to provide thermal insulation. The elastic stretch of the fabric 10 can also provide heat dissipating and cooling effects similar to those described above. The thickness of the raised surface 14 on the technical back, B, e.g., the height of the pillars 18 of FIG. 1B or the height of the velour, can be selected or controlled to provide the fabric 10 (or the garment made from the fabric 10) with desired thermal properties. Other parameters, such as the density of the pillars 18, the width and/or depth of the channels 22, 24, and/or the density of the velour yarns can also be adjusted to control the thermal properties of the fabric 10.

In some implementations, the smooth surface 16 of the technical face, F, of the stretchable fabric 10 (as seen, e.g., in FIGS. 1A-1C) includes filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns exhibiting a relatively high modulus, e.g. a modulus over about 425 gdp, and/or high tenacity, e.g. a tenacity over about 6 gdp, or over about 10 gdp, or over about 20 gdp, to provide the stretchable fabric 10 with relatively high cut and/or abrasion resistance. Suitable materials exhibiting relatively high modulus, e.g. in filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns, include, e.g., p-aramid, such as KEVLAR® (available from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, of Wilmington, Del. U.S.A.); or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, such as SPECTRA® (available from Honeywell International Inc., of Morristown, N.J., U.S.A.) or DYNEEMA® (available from DSM High Performance Fibers B.V., of Heerlen, Netherlands); or aramid, such as TWARON® (available from Teijin Aramid B.V., of Arnhem, Netherlands). The filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns exhibiting high modulus can form the smooth outer surface 16 of the technical face, F, of the fabric, and the outer surface 32 of gloves 30 formed of the fabric, providing the surface with high cut and abrasion resistance. In testing to date, fabrics formed of materials exhibiting high modulus, e.g., p-aramid KEVLAR®, have been shown to provide relatively improved performance when used in filament and/or multi-filament form, e.g. as compared to fabrics formed of high modulus p-aramid KEVLAR® in spun yarn form. This preliminary finding may also be valid for other materials exhibiting high modulus. Garments made of the fabric 10, such as work wear clothing or gloves, with an outer surface 16 formed by technical face, F, can be used under in harsh working environments for long periods of time, while continuing to protect the wearer from harsh working conditions. Examples of such harsh working environments may include, e.g.: meat cutting, metal cutting, metal welding, metal grinding, glass cutting, various assembly lines, construction, industrial maintenance, and others.

The materials of the filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns used in forming the stretchable fabric 10 of FIGS. 1A-1C can be selected based on the intended use of the fabric. For example, the stretchable fabric 10 can be used in garments for wear in hazardous environments, such as conditions frequently experienced by fire, military, police, and other emergency response personnel, where the garments are desirably flame resistant and/or flame retardant. The technical back, B, can include flame retardant yarns and/or fibers, e.g., a blend of cotton or regenerated cellulose fibers such as TENCEL® (regenerated cellulose, available from Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft, of Lenzing, Austria) with modacrylic at a weight ratio of about 65:35. Other flame retardant yarns include, e.g. NOMEX® (aramid) and KEVLAR® (p-aramid),both available from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, of Wilmington, Del. U.S.A.); BASOFIL® (melamine), available from Basofil Fibers, LLC, of Enka, N.C. U.S.A.; PBI (polybenzimidazole), available, e.g., from PBI Performance Products, Inc., of Charlotte, N.C. U.S.A.; P84® (polyimide), available from Evonik Fibres GmbH, of Lenzing, Austria; carbon-carbon composites; and other suitable materials. In addition to the high modulus fibers, the technical face, F, can include flame retardant and/or non-melt non-drip fibers. Examples of flame retardant fibers include, e.g., fibers formed of the materials listed above, and examples of non-melt non-drip fibers include, e.g., FR cotton, FR wool, wool, silk, rayon, and other suitable materials. Other suitable materials for the yarns/fibers of the technical back, B, can include synthetic fibers, e.g., 100% synthetic fibers such as polyester, natural fibers, or a combination or blend of various fibers. The fabric body 12 can be plaited elastomeric fibers and/or yarns, such as spandex, e.g., LYCRA®, nylon, or a blend of various fibers. A typical weight ratio of stitch yarn to loop yarn in a fabric 10 is between about 95:5 and about 30:70.

In some implementations, the fabric body 12 having a terry knit construction is formed by joining stitch yarns and loop yarns on a circular knitting machine, e.g., 24 cut, 26-inch cylinder. The terry knit construction can have regular plaiting. The technical face, F, has a smooth jersey construction, while loops of the loop yarn extend outwardly at the technical back, B, to form a raised surface 14, e.g., the raised surfaces of FIGS. 1B and 1C. Various methods can be used to form the pillar/channel (grid) configuration on the technical back, B, such as that shown in FIG. 1B. For example, tipped and tipless sinkers, high and low sinkers, and/or the combinations thereof are used to form channels along one direction, e.g., vertical channels 22 of FIG. 1B. Intersecting channels, such as horizontal channels 24 of FIG. 1B, can be formed by removing the loop yarn from one or more feeds. In some implementations, shrinkable loop yarns are used on the technical back, B, so that when the shrinkable loop yarns are processed with heat, e.g., wet heat such as hot water or steam, or dry heat such as hot air, the yarns shrink to form channels on the technical back, B.

Different levels of thermal insulation can be provided by reducing or increasing a height of the raised surface, e.g., the sinker height or the velour height. For example, for the grids of FIG. 1B, as the sinker height is increased, the fiber pillar height is increased and the insulation factor of the fabric 10 is increased. Details for the formation of discrete pillar regions and intersecting channels are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,182, issued Aug. 9, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some implementations, the loop yarns forming the technical back, B, of the fabric body 12 are textured yarns formed of fibrous materials as discussed previously. The loop yarns can have a denier in the range of about 40 denier to about 300 denier (or equivalent for spun yarn), e.g., about 70 denier. The denier per filament (dpf) may be about 0.3 dpf to about 5.0 dpf, e.g., about 1.0 dpf. A suitable loop yarn is a 70/68 textured nylon yarn.

In some implementations, the stitch yarns forming the technical face, F, of the fabric body 12 are textured yarns formed of fibrous materials as previously discussed. For example, when the stitch yarns include a blend of elastomeric fibers and synthetic fibers, the synthetic fibers in the stitch yarns can have a denier in the range of about 60 denier to about 70 denier, e.g., about 70 denier (or equivalent for spun yarn). The elastomeric fibers in the stitch yarns can have a denier, e.g., of about 70 denier. In some implementations, a suitable stitch yarn is a 70/68 textured nylon yarn commingled with 70 denier Lycra® (available from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, of Wilmington, Del. U.S.A.).

In some implementations, the stretchable fabric 10 is further processed before use. For example, the surface 14 (i.e., loops of the loop yarn) at the technical back, B, of the fabric body 12 may be sanded, brushed, and/or napped. Such processes can help the fabric body 12 to maintain good wind breaking properties in static conditions. In static (i.e., unstretched) conditions, the finished stretchable fabric 10 has an air permeability of less than 10 ft³/ft²/min, tested according to ASTM D-737 under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body 12.

The textile fabric 10 can be incorporated in a wide range of garments including shirts, jackets, pants, socks, and gloves for use in a variety of activities, e.g., jogging, cross-country skiing, team sports, such as soccer, football, etc., and/or in a work environment. During such activities and/or in such a work environment, a wearer's thermal insulating requirements have a tendency to change over time, depending on the level of physical activity.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of work wear gloves 30 is made from the fabric 10 of the disclosure, e.g. as described above and seen in FIGS. 1A-1C. The gloves can fit snuggly onto a wearer's hands (not shown), e.g., as a result of the stretchability of the fabric 10. The gloves 30 are thin and light in weight, providing the wearer with comfort, good dexterity, tactility, and good grip of items to be handled by the wearer. The outer surface 32 of the work wear gloves 30 is formed by the smooth surface 16, of the technical face, F, of the fabric 10 and has high cut and/or abrasion resistance, so that the gloves can protect the wearer's hands and withstand wear and tear for extended periods of time in harsh work environments. The inner surface 34 of the work wear gloves 30 is formed by the raised surface 14 of the technical back, B, of the fabric 10. The raised surface 14 (not shown) on the inner surface 34 of the work wear glove 30 provides the wearer with comfort, warmth, and heat dissipating and cooling effects, e.g., effective and rapid sweat drying. The gloves 30 can also be flame retardant to further protect the wearer's hand under harsh work environments that involve fire hazard.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

A fabric, designated E793B, was formed in accordance with the disclosure. The fabric had a single face plaited construction, namely a single face plaited terry sinker loop construction, formed of loop yarn, stitch yarn, and plaited yarn, with a first surface (i.e., the technical face) having a smooth jersey construction, and an opposite second surface (i.e., the technical back) having raised sinker loop yarns. The loop yarn consisted of 36/1, 70:30 modacrylic:TENCEL® (regenerated cellulosic), having FR (flame retardant) properties, with the loop yarn representing 48.80 wt. % of the finished fabric. The stitch yarn had two ends, consisting of 42/1 KEVLAR®, representing 44.29 wt. % of the finished fabric. The plaited yarn (spandex yarn consisting of 70 denier LYCRA®) was plaited under the stitch yarn and represented 6.91 wt. % of the finished fabric.

In this trial, the loop yarn included FR (flame retardant) material, i.e. modacrylic, with KEVLAR®, to provide the entire fabric with FR characteristics (keeping in mind that KEVLAR® has inherent FR properties), with good thermal performance. Also, the number of ends of the stitch yarn (KEVLAR®) was doubled, from 1 to 2, to simulate coarser yarn, with the count of two ends of 42/1 equivalent to 21/1, in to order to achieve enhanced cut protection for the wearer in the finished product.

Example 2

Another test fabric, designated E793C, was also formed in accordance with this disclosure. As in the first example, the fabric had a single face plaited construction, namely a single face plaited terry sinker loop construction, formed of loop yarn, stitch yarn, and plaited yarn, with a first surface (i.e., the technical face) having a smooth jersey construction, and an opposite second surface (i.e., the technical back) having raised sinker loop yarns. The loop yarn consisted of 70/48 textured polyester, with the loop yarn, representing 32.49 wt. % of the finished fabric. As above, the stitch yarn had two ends, consisting of 42/1 KEVLAR®, representing 58.39 wt. % of the finished fabric. The plaited yarn, a spandex yarn consisting of 70 denier LYCRA®, was plaited under the stitch yarn and represented 9.11 wt. % of the finished fabric.

In this trial, the number of ends of the stitch yarn (KEVLAR) again was doubled, to simulate coarser yarn, with the count of two ends of 42/1 equivalent to 21/1, to order to achieve more protection for the wearer in the finished product. The loop yarn was formed of 100% polyester, to generate softer hand and relatively greater thermal insulation.

Other Implementations

According to another implementation of the fabric and gloves of this disclosure, referring to FIG. 4, in one implementation, the fabric 10 has plaited terry sinker loop knit construction, with a raised (e.g. velour or fleece) surface 14 on the technical back, B, and a smooth jersey surface 16 on the technical face, F. Yarn 26 forming the technical face, F, and yarn 28 forming the technical back, B, are plaited together along an interface region, I, which is suggested in broken line.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the fabric 10 is incorporated into gloves 30R, 30L, the raised (e.g. velour or fleece) surface 14 on the technical back, B, defines the inside surface 30 of the glove 30L, positioned to face the glove wearer's skin surface, S, and the smooth jersey surface 16 on the technical face defines the outside surface 32 of the glove 30L. Referring also to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the raised terry loop surface on the inside of the glove can be, e.g., in a plain velour 30A (FIG. 6A) or in a grid-like pattern 30B (FIG. 6B) having raised pile pillars 18 defined by region 20 of relatively low pile or no pile in intersecting vertical and horizontal channels 22, 24, respectively, e.g. as shown and discussed above, and as described in Rock et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,182, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to FIG. 7, and also to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a touch screen capacitive device 50 with a touch screen 52 is shown being operated by contact of the fingertip surface 54 (by way of example only) of the finger 56 of an operator wearing a glove 30L of the disclosure (only one finger portion 58 of the glove is shown). Referring to FIG. 7A, the yarn 26 forming the technical face, F, of the fabric 10, and forming the outside surface of the glove, also includes a conductive, e.g., electrically conductive, yarn or includes an electrically conductive fiber blend (for convenience, the term “conductive”, as used below, includes “electrically conductive”). The yarn 26 or the conductive elements in the yarn 26, e.g., the conductive yarn or the conductive fiber blend, can have an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁷ Ohms/centimeter or less, e.g., 1×10⁵ Ohms/cm. The conductive yarn, e.g. in filament form, or conductive fiber blend, e.g., in spun yarn form, on the jersey side, i.e. the technical face, F, can be in spaced apart regions 60A, 60B that are located at predetermined locations on the surface layer 16 of the gloves 30R, 30L.

The conductive elements of the yarn 26 are flexible (knittable), abrasion resistant to maintain conductivity for actuation of the touch screen after abrasion. Abrasion resistance can be demonstrated on Martindale or Taber laboratory abrasion testing equipment). The conductive elements in the yarn 26 can be made of multifilament metal wire, e.g. stainless steel VN14/1X90 316L, available from Baekaert Corporation (Akron, Ohio), having electrical resistivity of 1×10⁷ Ohms/cm. The conductive yarn can be made of filaments or of staple fibers where conductive particles are embedded in thermoplastic fiber (polyester, nylon, polypropylene, or acrylic). The conductive particles can be in micrometer (mm) or nanometer (nm) size. The conductive particles can be made of carbon and/or metal, like copper, silver, etc. The conductive particle can be embedded across the whole cross section of the thermoplastic fiber, or in core-sheath pattern where the conductive particles can be in the sheath region (see, e.g., RESISTAT® conductive fibers created by a suffusion process that chemically saturates the outer skin of a fiber with carbon particles, as available from Shakespeare Conductive Fibers, LLC, of Columbia, S.C. U.S.A., e.g., RESISTAT®F901, X505 fiber, having electrical resistivity of 1×10⁵ Ohms/cm.) or in the core region (see, e.g., CLARETTA® conductive fibers with carbon contained layer(s) (polyamide) in a polyester sheath and core, as available from Kuraray Co., Ltd., of Yokayama, Japan). The conductive particles can also be embedded in the cross section of the thermoplastic fiber in a predetermined pattern (see, e.g., NEGA-STAT® conductive fibers with a trilobal conductive core surrounded by a polyester sheath, as available from W. Barnet & Son, LLC., of Arcadia, S.C. U.S.A., or see, e.g., MEGANA® conductive fibers with high concentrations of carbon in a polyester filament yarn or MEGA®III conductive fibers formed of nylon filament containing carbon particles, both as available from Unitika Fibers Ltd., of Japan.

In other implementations, the conductive fibers of the yarn 26 can be made by metal deposition on the yarn's surface (vapor deposition, arcing, etc.), or by a process of depositing a conductive “metal” layer on the outer surface of a synthetic fiber by chemical reaction reduction-oxidation (RED-OX), where a layer of copper (see, e.g., CUPRON® conductive fibers formed of polymers and/or textiles treated with copper oxide, as available from Cupron Inc., of Israel) or silver (see, e.g., X-STATIC® silver-coated conductive fibers, as available from Noble Fiber Technologies, LLC, of Scranton, Pa. U.S.A.) is applied to fiber surfaces. The conductive fibers can be commingled with or wrap a nonconductive filament yarn, e.g. a thermoplastic yarn or the fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity, for exposure at the outer, i.e. the smooth jersey surface (technical face). The non-conductive filament yarns may also contain fibers coated with a conductive polymer, e.g. polyaniline or polypyrole, also for exposure that the outer surface of the glove. The conductive fibers (staples) can be blended with nonconductive fiber at a predetermined ratio. Other examples of commercially available conductive fibers include, e.g.: S-SHIELD™ PES conductive fibers of 80% polyester and 20% Inox, as available from Schoeller Textiles AG, of Switzerland; CONDUCTROL® conductive fibers of acrylic polymer suffused to carbon fibers, as available from Sterling Chemicals International, Inc., of Houston, Tex. U.S.A.; BELLTRON® conductive fibers with a polymer matrix (nylon or polyester) and conductive particles (carbon or metal) exposed on the surface, as available from Kanebo Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan; and MEGATOPIA™ conductive fibers, as available from Toray Industries, Inc., of Japan. Alternatively, the conductive yarns/fibers can be made of carbon fiber (in contrast to synthetic thermoplastic fiber loaded/filled with carbon particles).

Referring again to FIG. 5, the plaited terry sinker loop knit construction 12, with smooth jersey surface 32 on the technical face, F, and with a raised surface 30 on the technical back, B, includes elastomeric yarn elements 38 as part of the jersey (technical face, F) or plaited with the jersey yarn 26. The elastomeric filaments can wrap, cover, or can be commingled with the stitch yarn 26. The elastomeric yarn elements 38 can have any predetermined size, e.g. about 20 denier to about 150 denier, and the elastomeric yarn elements 38 can be incorporated into the fabric on every course, or repeat, e.g., at every other course, or at every X course, where “X” is any integer). Elastomeric yarn elements 38 can also, or instead, be plaited under the jersey yarn 26 on the technical back, B.

Referring to FIG. 7B, in another implementation, conductive yarns or conductive fiber blend 26 can be on the jersey side 16 of the technical face, F, and in the terry loop yarn 28 on the velour or raised side 14 of the technical back, F, in regions 62A and 62B of the same course, e.g., courses X and Y. In this implementation, the conductive fiber of the terry sinker loop surface 14 (of the technical back, B), in a yarn form or as a raised surface like a velour, will have direct contact to the wearer's skin surface 54, or in close proximity to the skin surface, and have direct contact through the plaited interface construction, I, with the conductive yarn on the jersey surface 16 (of the technical face, F) in order to generate direct conductive bridge between the user/wearer's skin surface 54 and the touch screen surface 52.

The conductive yarns/fibers may be inserted on the technical face, F, between and/or plaited with nonconductive yarns/fibers 26, in a predetermined distribution. A textile fabric can include electrically conductive yarns spaced apart by insulative nonconductive yarns, e.g., in the predetermined distribution. The fibers/yarns of the general textile construction are typically made of nonconductive materials, such as: synthetic materials (e.g., polyester, nylon, polypropylene, acrylic); natural materials (e.g., cotton or wool); regenerate fibers (e.g., rayon, modal, or TENCEL® (i.e. Lyocell biodegradable fiber made from wood pulp cellulose)); and/or flame retardant fibers (e.g., p-aramid, m-aramid, PBI (polybenzimidazole), modacrylic, FR synthetic yarn, and FR treated cellulosic).

Other Embodiments

While a terry knit fabric with regular plaiting construction has been described, in some embodiments, the fabric body can alternatively be constructed as terry with reverse plating, two-end fleece, three-end fleece, tricot, etc.

Although a single face construction has been described, in some embodiments, the fabric body can be finished at both the technical face and the technical back, form a double face fabric, if desired.

Also, referring to FIG. 8, in another implementation of a capacitive touch screen compatible glove of the disclosure, a glove 100 may have electrically conductive contact regions 102 disposed at one or more fingertip regions 104 and/or the thumb tip region 105, formed by textile fabric elements of conductive yarns and/or wire patterns extending across the width (106) or along the length (108) of one or more glove fingers and/or thumb, and the electrically conductive elements are incorporated by cut-and-sew fabrication techniques.

Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A fabric comprising: a stretchable fabric body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,the stretchable fabric body comprising an elastomeric fiber, the first surface comprising filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high modulus and high tenacity, and the second surface being a raised surface comprising loop yarns.

2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein at least the first surface comprises flame retardant filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns.

3. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the loop yarns of the second surface comprise flame retardant filaments and/or yarns.

4. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the loop yarns of the second surface comprise non-melt non-drip filaments and/or yarns.

5. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high modulus have a modulus of at least about 425 gdp.

6. The fabric of claim 1 or claim 5, wherein the filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns of the first surface comprise p-aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns.

7. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high tenacity have tenacity over about 6 gdp.

8. The fabric of claim 7, wherein the filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high tenacity have tenacity over about 10 gdp.

9. The fabric of claim 8, wherein the filaments, multi-filaments, spun yarn of staple fibers, and/or yarns having high tenacity have tenacity over about 20 gdp.

10. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the stretchable fabric body has a single face plaited construction having a technical face defining the first surface and an opposite technical back defining the second surface.

11. The fabric of claim 10, wherein the single face plaited construction comprises a single face plaited terry sinker loop construction having the technical face defining the first surface and the opposite technical back defining the second surface.

12. The fabric of claim 11, wherein the technical face defining the first surface comprises a smooth jersey construction and the technical back defining the second surface comprises raised terry sinker loop yarns.

13. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the first surface exhibits cut resistance.

14. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the raised surface is velour.

15. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the raised surface comprises first regions of raised pillars having a first pile height and second regions having a second pile height, or no pile height, lower than the first pile height, the second regions forming interconnected channels separating the first regions.

16. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric body has 4-way stretch.

17. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric body has an air permeability of less than about 200 ft3/ft2/min, tested according to ASTM D-737 under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.

18. The fabric of claim 17, wherein the air permeability is less than about 100 ft3/ft2/min.

19. A glove comprising: a fabric comprising a stretchable fabric body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the stretchable fabric body comprising an elastomeric fiber, the first surface comprising fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity, and the second surface being a raised surface and comprising loop yarns;an inner surface of the glove facing a skin surface of a wearer being the second surface of the fabric body, and an outer surface of the glove facing away from the skin of the wearer being the first surface of the fabric body.

20. The glove of claim 19, wherein the high modulus fibers/yarns have a modulus of at least about 425 gdp.

21. The glove of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the high modulus fibers/yarns in the first surface comprise p-aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

22. The glove of claim 19, wherein the tenacity is over about 6 gdp.

23. The glove of claim 22 wherein the tenacity is over about 10 gdp.

24. The glove of claim 23, wherein the tenacity is over about 20 gdp.

25. A capacitive touch screen compatible glove, comprising a plaited terry sinker loop knit construction fabric defining a glove, the fabric comprising a stretchable fabric body comprising elastomeric fibers and having: a technical face layer defining a first, smooth surface comprising fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity and forming an outer surface of the glove,a technical back layer defining an opposite, second, raised surface and forming an inner surface of the glove, andan interface region where yarns of the technical face layer and yarns of the technical back layer are intimately plaited together, andat least the technical face layer comprising defined regions containing electrically conductive elements disposed for exposure to ambient environment at the first, smooth surface,whereby, when a glove wearer applies a defined region of the glove fabric to an opposed region of a touch screen of a capacitive touch screen device, with very low pressure, electrical conductivity of the wearer's body is conducted by the defined region of the fabric to the opposed region of the touch screen in a manner to create a desired distortion of the touch screen electrostatic field.

26. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein the electrically conductive elements disposed for exposure to ambient environment at the first, smooth surface are plaited over the fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity.

27. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein the electrically conductive elements disposed for exposure to ambient environment at the first, smooth surface comprise a coating of conductive polymer over the fibers/yarns having high modulus and high tenacity.

28. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein the technical face layer and the technical back layer comprise corresponding defined regions containing electrically conductive elements disposed in an electrically conductive relationship.

29. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein the technical face layer and the technical back layer comprise corresponding defined regions containing electrically conductive elements disposed in an electrically conductive relationship.

30. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, comprising a pair of touch screen compatible gloves.

31. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein the fabric of the glove is thermally insulating.

32. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein additional surfaces of the glove, beyond index fingertip surfaces, are compatible for operation of a touch screen of a capacitive touch screen device.

33. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 32 wherein the additional surfaces of the glove comprise one or more surfaces selected from among: other fingertip surfaces, thumb tip surfaces, knuckle surfaces, hand palm surfaces, and back-of-the hand surfaces.

34. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25 wherein the inner surface of the glove has a velour finish.

35. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein the inner surface of the glove has a raised grid finish, comprising discrete pillar regions of raised pile, surrounded by intersecting channels of low pile or no pile.

36. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein at least one of the technical face layer and the technical back layer comprises elastomeric elements.

37. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 36, wherein the elastomeric elements have predetermined size of about 20 denier to about 150 denier.

38. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 36, wherein the elastomeric elements are incorporated on every course, or repeat at every other course, or at every “X” course, where “X” is any integer.

39. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 36, wherein the elastomeric elements are plaited under jersey yarn on the technical back layer.

40. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25, wherein the electrically conductive elements have an electrical resistivity of about 1×107 Ohms/cm or less.

41. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 40, wherein the electrically conductive elements have an electrical resistivity of about 1×105 Ohms/cm or less.

42. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25 wherein the electrically conductive elements are in the form of conductive yarns.

43. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25 wherein the electrically conductive elements are in the form of conductive fiber blends.

44. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25 wherein the electrically conductive elements are spaced apart by insulative/nonconductive yarns in the defined regions of the at least technical face in a predetermined distribution.

45. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 44, wherein the predetermined distribution is a pattern extending across a width of a finger of the glove.

46. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 44, wherein the predetermined distribution is a pattern extending along a length of a finger of the glove.

47. The capacitive touch screen compatible glove of claim 25 wherein one or more electrically conductive elements comprise wires extending across the width or along the length of one or more glove fingers and/or thumb, and the electrically conductive elements are incorporated by cut-and-sew fabrication techniques.