Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height. In another implementation, loop yarn having a first shrinkage performance is formed in first regions to a predetermined loop height, and loop yarn having another, different shrinkage performance is formed in other regions; the loops are cut and finished to a common pile height and the web is exposed to heat to cause loop yarn to shrink to one or more different pile heights.

Abstract: Covers for mattresses having a reclining surface of viscoelastic foam have a fabric body with a first surface disposed in engagement with the reclining surface; an opposite, second surface disposed for engagement by a person reclining upon the cover; and at least one air flow region defined by the fabric body for enhanced circulation of air between the reclining surface of viscoelastic foam and an opposed skin surface of the person reclining upon the cover. The circular knit fabric body comprises a flame retardant material.

Abstract: A composite fabric article includes multi-filament, interlaced yams forming a knit construction. The fabric article has an inner surface and an outer surface where the inner surface has at least one region of raised fibers or fleece formed thereupon, and the outer surface has an area upon which a non-continuous coating of discrete coating segments of coating material is applied to bind individual yarn fibers together in bound groupings and to enhance abrasion resistance of the outer surface.

Abstract: A composite fabric garment includes a first garment portion disposed in one or more upper regions of the fabric garment, i.e. those regions relatively more likely in use to be exposed to wind and rain, and a second garment portion disposed in one or more lower regions of the fabric garment, i.e. those regions relatively less likely in use to be exposed to wind and rain. The first garment portion is formed of a first composite fabric having first inner and outer fabric layers and a first intermediate barrier layer disposed between and bonded to at least one of the first inner and outer fabric layers, the first intermediate barrier layer being breathable and substantially impermeable to wind and liquid water. The second garment portion is formed of a second composite fabric formed of second inner and outer fabric layers and having predetermined air permeability.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite fabric article includes interlacing yarns including multi-filament fibers to form a fabric body of knit construction, and forming a raised or fleece region upon an inner surface of the fabric body. The method also includes applying a non-continuous coating consisting of discrete coating segments of coating material upon yarn fibers at an outer surface of the fabric body to bind individual yarn fibers together in bound groupings and to enhance abrasion resistance of the outer surface. The non-continuous coating is applied such that the coating is without substantial effect on hand tactile and breathability of the knit construction of the fabric body.

Abstract: A composite fabric garment includes a first garment portion disposed in one or more upper regions of the fabric garment, i.e. those regions relatively more likely in use to be exposed to wind and rain, and a second garment portion disposed in one or more lower regions of the fabric garment, i.e. those regions relatively less likely in use to be exposed to wind and rain. The first garment portion is formed of a first composite fabric having first inner and outer fabric layers and a first intermediate barrier layer disposed between and bonded to at least one of the first inner and outer fabric layers, the first intermediate barrier layer being breathable and substantially impermeable to wind and liquid water. The second garment portion is formed of a second composite fabric formed of second inner and outer fabric layers and having predetermined air permeability.

Abstract: An under body armor hybrid fabric garment has first and second fabric portions. The first fabric portion, configured to cover an upper torso region of a user's body left exposed by the body armor and extending into a second body transition region covered by the body armor, is formed of low or no stretch fabric. The second fabric element, configured to cover a lower torso region of the user's body underneath the body armor, is formed of stretchable fabric.

Abstract: An under body armor hybrid fabric garment has first and second fabric portions. The first fabric portion, configured to cover an upper torso region of a user's body left exposed by the body armor and extending into a second body transition region covered by the body armor, is formed of low or no stretch fabric. The second fabric element, configured to cover a lower torso region of the user's body underneath the body armor, is formed of stretchable fabric.

Abstract: Covers for mattresses having a reclining surface of viscoelastic foam have a fabric body with a first surface disposed in engagement with the reclining surface; an opposite, second surface disposed for engagement by a person reclining upon the cover; and at least one air flow region defined by the fabric body for enhanced circulation of air between the reclining surface of viscoelastic foam and an opposed skin surface of the person reclining upon the cover.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. The fabric element has at least two regions of contrasting insulative capacity. The method includes designing a pattern and combining yarns in a continuous web according to the pattern. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height.

Abstract: A double-face velour fabric article consists of a fabric body having a technical face formed by a filament stitch yarn and a technical back formed by a filament loop yarn. The filament stitch yarn includes a heat sensitive material, e.g. a hot melt material or a heat shrinkable material, and/or an elastomeric material, such as spandex. The fabric body has a velour surface formed at both the technical back and the technical face. Raised fibers of at least one of the technical face and the technical back may be entangled, including in and/or through interstices of the fabric body, toward the other of the technical face and the technical back, e.g., by a hydroentanglement process applied after finishing. The fabric body has permeability of about 80 ft3/ft2/min, or less, under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.

Abstract: A composite textile fabric for rapidly moving moisture away from the skin, and for retaining body heat, is provided. The composite fabric includes an inner fabric layer made of a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers primarily of polyester or other synthetic yarns which have been rendered hydrophilic, and an outer fabric layer made of a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers primarily of polyester or other synthetic yarns which have also been rendered hydrophilic. The inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer are formed concurrently by knitting a plaited construction so that the layers are distinct and separate, yet integrated one with the other. The yarn fibers of the inner fabric layer are embedded with particles of a refractory carbide, or may be treated by metal vapor deposition to enhance the retention of body heat.

Abstract: A fabric article of knitted or woven construction with multi-filament, interlaced yarns has at least one pile or raised or fleece region on its inner surface and at least one discontinuous coating region of binder material on its outer surface. The binder material provides improved durability against pilling and fraying without substantial adverse effect on characteristics of the base fabric. The same or different binders and/or the same or different densities of binders may be applied to one or more selected regions of the fabric surface using engineered printing technology, the binder regions resisting napping to create predetermined non-raised or non-fleece regions of contrasting thermal insulation and/or breatheability conforming to needs of underlying corresponding regions of the wearer's body. Methods of forming the fabric articles are also described.

Abstract: A composite fabric article includes multi-filament, interlaced yarns forming a knit construction. The fabric article has an inner surface and an outer surface where the inner surface has at least one region of raised fibers or fleece formed thereupon, and the outer surface has an area upon which a non-continuous coating of discrete coating segments of coating material is applied to bind individual yarn fibers together in bound groupings and to enhance abrasion resistance of the outer surface.

Abstract: A composite textile fabric for rapidly moving moisture away from the skin is provided. The composite fabric includes an inner fabric layer (the technical back) formed therealong with a plurality of vertical and horizontal channels and made of a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers of polyester or nylon which have been rendered hydrophilic. The fabric also includes an outer fabric layer (the technical face) made of a moisture absorbent material, a yarn comprising a plurality of fibers primarily of polyester of other man-made yarn which has also been rendered hydrophilic, or a combination thereof. The inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer are formed concurrently by knitting a plaited construction so that the layers are distinct and separate, yet integrated one with the other.

Abstract: A composite fabric article includes multi-filament, interlaced yarns forming a knit construction. The fabric article has an inner surface and an outer surface where the inner surface has at least one region of raised fibers or fleece formed thereupon, and the outer surface has an area upon which a non-continuous coating of discrete coating segments of coating material is applied to bind individual yarn fibers together in bound groupings and to enhance abrasion resistance of the outer surface.

Abstract: A composite fabric garment includes a first garment portion disposed in one or more upper regions of the fabric garment, i.e. those regions relatively more likely in use to be exposed to wind and rain, and a second garment portion disposed in one or more lower regions of the fabric garment, i.e. those regions relatively less likely in use to be exposed to wind and rain. The first garment portion is formed of a first composite fabric having first inner and outer fabric layers and a first intermediate barrier layer disposed between and bonded to at least one of the first inner and outer fabric layers, the first intermediate barrier layer being breathable and substantially impermeable to wind and liquid water. The second garment portion is formed of a second composite fabric formed of second inner and outer fabric layers and having predetermined air permeability.

Abstract: A velour fabric article consists of a fabric body having a technical face formed by a filament stitch yarn and a technical back formed by a loop yarn. The filament stitch yarn includes a heat sensitive material, e.g. a hot melt material or a heat shrinkable material, and/or an elastomeric material, such as spandex. The loop yarn includes flame retardant material, such as M-Aramide fiber. The fabric body has a velour surface formed at one or both of the technical back and the technical face. Raised fibers of at least one of the technical face and the technical back may be entangled, including in and/or through interstices of the fabric body, toward the other of the technical face and the technical back, e.g., by a hydroentanglement process applied after finishing. The fabric body has permeability of about 90 ft3/ft2/min, or less, under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.

Abstract: A velour fabric article consists of a fabric body having a technical face formed by a filament stitch yarn and a technical back formed by a loop yarn. The filament stitch yarn includes a heat sensitive material, e.g. a hot melt material or a heat shrinkable material, and/or an elastomeric material, such as spandex. The loop yarn includes flame retardant material, such as M-Aramide fiber. The fabric body has a velour surface formed at one or both of the technical back and the technical face. Raised fibers of at least one of the technical face and the technical back may be entangled, including in and/or through interstices of the fabric body, toward the other of the technical face and the technical back, e.g., by a hydroentanglement process applied after finishing. The fabric body has permeability of about 90 ft3/ft2/min, or less, under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.