Abstract: Disclosed herein is aweft knit spacer fabric having variable thicknesses, the fabric formed from: a first surface layer formed from a first set of yarn; a second surface layer formed from a second set of yarn; and a set of spacer yarn between the first and second surface layer, where the fabric is formed from a plurality of courses of the sets of first, second and spacer yarns, where each course is connected to at least one other course in a wale direction, wherein the thickness is varied by varying one or both of: a density of tuck stitches along each course, where each tuck stitch is formed by the spacer yarn with the first and/or second surface layers; and a thickness of the set of spacer yarn in each course.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a weft knit spacer fabric (200) having variable thicknesses, comprising a first surface layer (210) formed from a first set of yarn (215); a second surface layer (220) formed from a second set of yarn (225); and a set of spacer yarn (230) between the first and second surface layers (210, 220), where the thickness is varied by varying in each course one or both of: the density of tuck stitches (235) formed by the set of spacer yarn (230) with the first and/or second surface layers (210, 220); and the thickness of the spacer yarn (230) in each course, provided that when the fabric (200) has a free-standing 3-dimensional shape, it is a moulded fabric.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fabric having variable fabric properties, the fabric comprising a plurality of fabric regions, each fabric region formed from at least one set of yarns; and the sets of yarns of the fabric regions belonging to a common family of thermoplastic polymer materials, wherein the fabric is moulded and the fabric regions have different fabric properties from each other.