Patent Grant
10480105
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a zoned fabric. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to garments that include seamless zoned channels for filling with material (e.g., down, synthetic down, ball fiber, synthetic insulators, etc.).
“Zoned” fabric systems used in garments afford a benefit of targeted insulation, or padding, for example. This allows portions of an individual wearing the garment to be particularly targeted for warming, or padding.
Difficulties arise in the appearance of zoned fabric systems, which may have defined seams or other closure mechanisms that risk failure. Additionally, zoned fabrics typically utilize complicated construction techniques in the construction of garments, for example by cutting and sewing many fabrics together to achieve the aesthetic and function, leading to increased production and manufacturing time and decreased efficiency. A need for an improved zoned fabric system is identified.
Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention may include seamless woven down fill channels. This is an improvement on systems that require sewing, bonding, or other construction to create down fill channels. Moreover, in some embodiments, these systems advantageously create a single layer of woven fabric where the zoned fill channels are not required (e.g., when laying out a garment pattern to be cut from the fabric).
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a zoned garment, including a first woven component, a second woven component, a space between the first and second woven components defining a channel filled with a fill material, and a third woven component extending such that the first and second woven components are woven together where there is no channel.
In some embodiments, the garment includes a plurality of channels filled with a fill material such that the channels form a pattern in the garment. In some embodiments, the channel is a seamless channel. In some embodiments, the fill material is an insulative material. In some embodiments, the fill material is padding material. In some embodiments, the garment is an upper body garment. In some embodiments, the garment is a headwear garment.
Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a zoned fabric, including a first woven component formed substantially parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom, a second woven component formed substantially parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom, a space between the first and second woven components defining a channel extending generally parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom and extending along a plane of the fabric, the channel configured to be filled with a fill material, and a third woven component extending such that the first and second woven components are woven together at edges of the channel.
In some embodiments, the fabric includes a plurality of channels filled with a fill material such that the channels form a pattern in the garment. In some embodiments, the channel is a seamless channel. In some embodiments, the fill material is an insulative material. In some embodiments, the fill material is padding material.
Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method of making a zoned fabric, including weaving a first fabric component extending substantially parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom, weaving a second fabric component extending substantially parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom and spaced from the first fabric component and defining a channel extending generally parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom and extending along a plane of the fabric, weaving a third woven component extending such that the first and second woven components are woven together at edges of the channel.
In some embodiments, the method also includes cutting a garment component from the fabric; and filling the channel with a filler material. In some embodiments, the fabric includes a plurality of channels filled with a fill material such that the channels form a pattern in a finished garment.
Additional features of embodiments of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further serve to explain the principles of and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, “some embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The term “invention” or “present invention” as used herein is a non-limiting term and is not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompasses all possible embodiments as described in the application.
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For clarity in the figures, each of the components 100, 200, and 300 are shown in a different shade, denoting their position along fabric 10. A key is provided in the figures.
In some embodiments, channels 400 may be disposed at equal intervals along fabric 10. In some embodiments, channels 400 may be disposed at varying intervals along fabric 10. In some embodiments, channels 400 may be of equal lengths, or may vary in lengths. In some embodiments, channel 400 may be substantially linear along fabric 10. In some embodiments, channel 400 may be generally nonlinear along fabric 10. In some embodiments, channels 400 may intersect one another at points along fabric 10. In some embodiments, channels 400 may form a complex shape along fabric 10. In some embodiments, channels 400 may be of the same width, or of varying widths along fabric 10. In some embodiments, the complex shapes of channels 400 may advantageously provide an aesthetic appeal to a finished garment made from fabric 10. Channels 400 may be filled with a filler material (e.g., down, synthetic down, ball fiber, polyester based fiber, other synthetic insulators, etc.). In some embodiments, different channels 400 may be filled with a different amount, density, or type of filler material. In some embodiments, individual channels 400 may be filled with a varying amount, density, or type of filler material along the channel or zone. In this regard, separate zones of fabric 10 may be warmer or more insulated in one zone, and include less insulation in other zones.
These channels are seamless, rather than requiring sewing, bonding, or other construction to create channels (e.g., down fill channels, padding fill channels, or the like). Moreover, in some embodiments, these systems advantageously create a single layer of woven fabric where the zoned fill channels 400 are not required (e.g., when laying out a garment pattern to be cut from the fabric).
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In some embodiments, the garment components include a plurality of channels 400 filled with a fill material such that the channels 400 form a pattern in the garment (see, for example,
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In embodiments, the garment portions may be the same continuous fabric material, or alternatively may be separate fabric material that are attached by suitable means, including, but not limited to, stitching, adhesive, and combinations thereof.
Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method of making a zoned fabric, including weaving a first fabric component extending substantially parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom, weaving a second fabric component extending substantially parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom and spaced from the first fabric component and defining a channel extending generally parallel to a shuttle direction of a loom and extending along a plane of the fabric, weaving a third woven component extending such that the first and second woven components are woven together at edges of the channel.
In some embodiments, the method also includes cutting a garment component from the fabric, and filling the channel with a filler material. In some embodiments, the fabric includes a plurality of channels filled with a fill material such that the channels form a pattern in a finished garment. In some embodiments, the channels may be filled while the fabric is being woven on the loom, or may be filled in a secondary operation after the components have been cut from the fabric.
It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.
The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.
The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3435855 | Livingston | Apr 1969 | A |
| 20170172240 | Massey | Jun 2017 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180002842 A1 | Jan 2018 | US |
