Fabric (woven – knitted – or nonwoven textile or cloth – etc.) – Knit fabric – Knit fabric is characterized by a particular or differential...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-02-27
Cole, Elizabeth M. (Department: 1771)
Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.)
Knit fabric
Knit fabric is characterized by a particular or differential...
C442S316000, C442S317000, C442S123000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194332
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a composite textile fabric, and more particularly, to a composite fabric comprising first and second fabric layers, in which the first fabric layer is made from a synthetic yarn, and the second fabric layer is blended with treated fibers having anti-microbial properties.
Most textile fabrics are likely to result in the substantial enclosure of moisture between the wearer's skin and undergarments or between the undergarments of the wearer and the outerwear. When moisture saturation takes place, excess moisture condenses and the body of the garment wearer is wetted, causing the wearer to begin to feel uncomfortable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,667, owned by Malden Mills Industries, Inc., describes a composite textile fabric with a first layer made of either polyester or nylon material, and a second layer having a substantial portion of a moisture absorbent material, such as cotton. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,733, also owned by Malden Mills Industries, Inc., describes a composite textile fabric that includes an inner fabric layer made of a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers, primarily of polyester, which have been rendered hydrophilic, and an outer fabric layer made of a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers, primarily of polyester, which have also been rendered hydrophilic. For each of these patented textile fabrics, the two fabric layers are formed concurrently by knitting a plaited construction so that the layers are distinct and separate, yet integrated one with the other.
While the textile fabrics described in both of these Malden Mills patents are advantageous, they are less than desirable. In each of these textile materials, liquid sweat migrates from the inner layer to the outer layer. During migration, the oily mixture of lipids and proteins which is secreted by the wearer migrates along with the liquid sweat. As a result of the bacterial decomposition of these lipids and proteins, which are concentrated mainly in the outer layer of the textile fabric, body odor is often produced.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a textile fabric which facilitates water transport to promote evaporation and keep the wearer dry, but which also substantially eliminates the production of body odor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a composite textile fabric for holding liquid moisture away from the skin and evaporating that moisture from the surface of its outer layer is provided. The composite fabric includes a first or inner fabric layer made of a synthetic yarn material which is naturally or has been chemically rendered to be, hydrophilic, and a second or outer fabric layer made of a yarn material selected from the group consisting of a moisture-absorbent yarn material such as cotton, a synthetic yarn material, such as polyester, acrylic or nylon, which has been rendered hydrophilic, or a combination thereof. The inner fabric layer and outer fabric layer are formed concurrently by knitting a plaited construction so that the layers are distinct and separate, yet integrated with one another.
Significantly, treated fibers with anti-microbial properties are blended exclusively in the yarn of the outer layer of the inventive textile fabric construction. Accordingly, any oily mixture of lipids and proteins that is secreted, from the wearer and then migrates with the liquid sweat from the wearer's skin through the inner layer, ultimately collects in the outer layer of the fabric, does not decompose, and the production of body odor is therefore substantially eliminated.
Importantly, treated fibers with the anti-microbial properties are not blended in the inner fabric layer. This is important since it is disadvantageous to interfere with bacterial growth next to the skin of the wearer. Bacterial growth is not harmful and is known to provide some protection to the skin.
Preferably, the treated fibers having anti-microbial properties are selected from nylon fibers coated with silver or nylon fibers coated with copper sulfide. These fibers are blended with the yarn material of the second or outer fabric layer in an amount between about 0.5 and 30 weight percent. The yarn blended with the treated fiber may be knit into every course for the highest degree of anti-microbial effect, every other course, every third course, and so on, to vary the level of anti-microbial effect that is desired.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved composite textile fabric for enhancing the transport of moisture away from the skin.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved composite textile fabric having a plurality of synthetic yarn fibers for conducting liquid moisture.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved composite textile fabric which includes plaited layers for promoting the moisture concentration gradient therebetween.
A further object of the invention is to provide a composite textile fabric which includes an outer moisture absorbent layer or an inner layer made from a synthetic yarn which has been rendered hydrophilic.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a composite textile fabric which includeds an elastomeric yarn to render the fabric stretchable.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a composite textile fabric in which some of the fibers used to produce the fabric have anti-microbial properties.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a composite textile fabric which inhibits bacterial proliferation in the outer fabric layer.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a composite textile fabric which substantially eliminates the production of body odor.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description.
The invention accordingly comprises fabric and fabric materials having the features, properties and relation of constituents which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5047448 (1991-09-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5144913 (1992-09-01), Yasui et al.
patent: 5312667 (1994-05-01), Lumb et al.
patent: 5344698 (1994-09-01), Rock et al.
patent: 5405644 (1995-04-01), Ohsumi et al.
patent: 5547733 (1996-08-01), Rock et al.
patent: 61-3741 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 2307901 (1990-12-01), None
Lie William K.
Lumb Douglas
Rock Moshe
Cole Elizabeth M.
Gottlieb Rackman & Reisman
Malden Mills Industries Inc.
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