KNIT FABRIC FOR APPAREL
An article of apparel includes a multilayered knit fabric structure. The knit fabric structure includes a first knit layer and a second knit layer, and a resilient intermediate knit layer disposed between and coupling with the first knit layer and the second knit layer. The intermediate knit layer has a corrugated shape along a first direction of the intermediate knit layer with consecutive peaks that are oriented in opposing directions such that the peaks comprise a set of first peaks oriented in a first peak direction and a set of second peaks oriented in a second peak direction that opposes the first peak direction. The first peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the first knit layer and the second peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the second knit layer.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/295,367, filed Dec. 30, 2021, and entitled “Knit Fabric For Apparel,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to knit fabric suitable for use in apparel, and a method of forming the fabric and/or apparel.
BACKGROUNDApparel such as clothing (e.g., upper body garments including shirts and brassieres, lower body garments including athletic shorts, an article of footwear) can be designed to provide a variety of features depending upon a particular application. Some features that are desirable are comfort, breathability, durability, stretchability and sufficient support and protection for body parts of the user when the article of apparel is worn. For certain applications, it may also be desirable to control a degree of stretch in one or more directions along an article of apparel during use.
It would be desirable to provide a textile article that is lightweight, breathable, and durable, and further provides enhanced levels of stretchability at different locations of the textile article depending upon a particular application of use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn example embodiments, a knit fabric structure for an article of apparel comprises a first knit layer and a second knit layer, and a resilient intermediate knit layer disposed between and coupling with the first knit layer and the second knit layer. The intermediate knit layer has a corrugated shape along a first direction of the intermediate knit layer with consecutive peaks that are oriented in opposing directions such that the peaks comprise a set of first peaks oriented in a first direction and a set of second peaks oriented in a second direction that opposes the first direction, the first peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the first knit layer and the second peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the second knit layer.
In another embodiment, an article of apparel (e.g., a brassiere) includes the knit fabric structure incorporated within the article of apparel.
The knit fabric structure can exhibit auxetic properties (possess a negative Poisson's ratio) or near auxetic properties (possess a Poisson's ratio of approximately zero, whether slightly negative or slightly positive). For example, the intermediate knit layer may be configured to lower the Poisson's ratio of the outer knit layers such that the entire knit structure exhibits a negative Poisson's ratio in response to being stretched in a dimension that corresponds with the direction of consecutive peaks extending along the corrugated shape of the intermediate knit layer.
Methods of forming a multilayered knit structure for an article of apparel are also described herein.
The above and still further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof.
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIn the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any discussion herein regarding “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exemplary embodiment”, and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and that such particular feature, structure, or characteristic may not necessarily be included in every embodiment. In addition, references to the foregoing do not necessarily comprise a reference to the same embodiment. Finally, irrespective of whether it is explicitly described, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that each of the particular features, structures, or characteristics of the given embodiments may be utilized in connection or combination with those of any other embodiment discussed herein.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.
A multi-layer knit material or knit structure as described herein comprises a textile construction including a plurality of layers coupled with each other so as to form a structure with useful properties, including enhanced elastic properties that exhibit a Poisson effect, i.e., having auxetic properties or near auxetic properties, in response to the knit structure being subjected to a stretching force (i.e., under load or tension) as described herein. As used herein, the term “auxetic” in relation to the knit structure refers to the knit structure exhibiting a negative Poisson's ratio when stretched in a particular direction of the knit structure. The term “near auxetic” in relation to the knit structure refers to the knit structure with a Poisson's ratio of about zero such that the stretch pattern of the pattern is substantially neutral (explained in greater detail below). By way of specific example, a near auxetic fabric possesses a slightly positive Poisson's ratio close to zero, i.e., a Poisson's ratio of about −0.25 to about +0.25 (e.g., a ratio of from about 0 to about +0.15). The knit material that is formed is resilient—when load or tension is applied, the material moves from a normal, unstretched configuration to an expanded, stretched configuration. When the load is released, the knit material recovers, returning to its normal, relaxed configuration.
The knitting process for forming the knit material comprises interlooping of one or more strands or yarns together to form layers, where the layers are further combined with each other in a manner as described herein. In general, knitting is the method of creating fabric by transforming continuous strands of yarn into a series of interlocking loops, where each row of such loops hangs from the one immediately preceding it. The basic element of a knit fabric structure is the loop intermeshed with the loops adjacent to it both sides and above and below it. An example embodiment of a single layer of knit fabric structure 2 is depicted in
Forming a fabric structure via a knitting process can be performed in different ways, including warp knitting and weft knitting. In warp knitting, the yarns generally run lengthwise in the fabric (e.g., tricot, milanese, and raschel knitting). In weft knitting, one continuous thread runs crosswise in the fabric making all of the loops in one course. The knit structure 2 depicted in
In example embodiments of the multi-layer knit structure described herein, the knit structure is formed via a weft knitting process (e.g., circular knit or flat knit) where each layer is knit/constructed at about the same or similar time with the other layers and/or during the same knitting process, with layers being connected with each other at selected intervals of courses of each knit layer as described herein. In other words, one layer of the multi-layer knit structure can be formed and coupled with another layer of the multi-layer knit structure during the forming of the other layer of the multi-layer knit structure (e.g., the layers are formed near simultaneously). Each knit layer can comprise a jersey knit fabric material, where the intermediate knit layer has different elastic properties as the outer knit layers as described herein.
It is noted that, when describing the layers forming the knit structure, the term “yarns” is used. However, it is noted that the layers of the knit structure can be formed with strands, fibers, filaments and/or yarns. The term strand includes a single fiber, filament, or monofilament, as well as an ordered assemblage of textile fibers having a high ratio of length to diameter and normally used as a unit (e.g., slivers, roving, single yarns, plies yarns, cords, braids, ropes, etc.). In a preferred embodiment a strand is a yarn (a continuous strand of textile fibers, filaments, or material in a form suitable for knitting, weaving, or otherwise intertwining to form a textile fabric). A yarn may include a number of fibers twisted together (spun yarn); a number of filaments laid together without twist (a zero-twist yarn); a number of filaments laid together with a degree of twist; and a single filament with or without twist (a monofilament).
Referring to the example embodiment of
The knit structure 100 includes a first shell or outer knit layer 110 that includes a first surface 115 defining an exposed side of the knit structure, a second shell or outer knit layer 120 that includes a second surface 125 defining an exposed side of the knit structure that opposes the first surface 115, and a resilient middle or intermediate knit layer 130 that is disposed and extends between and interconnects with the first and second outer knit layers. The resilient intermediate knit layer 130 has an undulating or corrugated shape that generally defines a sinusoidal or wavy pattern in which the intermediate knit layer 130 connects in an alternating manner with the first outer knit layer 110 and the second outer knit layer 120 at each crest or peak (e.g., at the amplitude) along the corrugated surface of the intermediate knit layer. In other words, the outer knit layers connect with the intermediate knit layer at opposing peaks (i.e., peaks oriented in opposing directions) of the intermediate knit layer. For example, as shown in
While the knit material structure 100 depicted in the figures comprises a three-layer structure (first and second outer or shell layers, and middle or intermediate knit layer), it is noted that the knit material structure can also include additional layers (e.g., layers between the first and second outer knit layers and/or further layers coupled to either or both of the first and second outer knit layers at the exterior surface of the outer knit layers). The forming of the intermediate knit layer and the coupling of the intermediate knit layer with the first and second knit layers can occur during the forming of each of the first and second knit layers (e.g., each layer is formed at or nearly at the same time, with the coupling of the intermediate knit layer to each of the first and second layers also happening at or about the same time as the first, second and intermediate knit layers are being formed).
The first and second outer knit layers 110, 120 can be formed of the same or similar materials. In an example embodiment, the first and second outer knit layers are identical in how they are formed and in relation to the yarns used to form the outer knit layers (e.g., with the first and second outer knit layers having the same number of courses in general alignment with each other when connected with the intermediate knit layer). Each outer knit layer can be formed with yarns that are non-elastic or harder/less elastic than yarns forming the intermediate knit layer 130. Non-elastic yarns or strands possess no inherent stretch and/or recovery properties by virtue of composition. Alternatively, each outer knit layer can be formed with yarns having the same or similar elasticity as the strands forming the intermediate knit layer. Some non-limiting examples of yarns that can be used to form the first and second outer knit layers include cellulosic fibers (e.g., cotton, bamboo) and protein fibers (e.g., wool, silk, and soybean), polyester fibers (poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) fibers), polycaprolactam fibers, poly(hexamethylene adipamide) fibers, acrylic fibers, acetate fibers, rayon fibers, nylon fibers and combinations thereof. The first and second outer knit layers can also be formed of one or more elastic materials that can be of the same or similar types as those used to form the intermediate knit layer (as described herein).
The intermediate knit layer 130 is formed with yarns that are elastic and have at least the same elasticity or greater elasticity in relation to the yarns that form the first and second outer knit layers 110, 120. By way of example, elastic strands or yarns forming the intermediate knit layer include an elastomeric material (e.g., a 100% elastic material). Elastic strands or yarns, by virtue of their composition alone, are capable of stretching under stress and recovering to an original size once the stress is released. Accordingly, elastic strands or yarns are utilized to provide a textile with stretch properties. An elastic strand or yarn is formed of rubber or a synthetic polymer having properties of rubber. A specific example of an elastomeric material suitable for forming an elastic strand or yarn is elastane, an elastomeric polyester-polyurethane copolymer (e.g., an elastane yarn commercially available under the tradename SPANDEX). The elastomeric yarns used to form the intermediate knit layer can also comprise covered yarns, such as a single covered yarn or a double covered yarn (DCY), where an elastomeric strand forms the core of single or double covered yarns and is thus covered (e.g., helically wound) by one or more non-elastic strands.
In an example embodiment, the first and second outer knit layers 110, 120 are formed of polyester yarns, while the intermediate knit layer 130 is formed of double covered yarns comprising polyester and elastane (i.e., polyester strands wrapped around elastane strands).
The first and second outer knit layers and the intermediate knit layer are each individual, separate knit layers that are formed together in a single knitting process, where the intermediate knit layer couples the first and second outer knit layers together at the connections or stitch locations (i.e., at the peaks of the intermediate knit layer). The connections or stitch locations between the intermediate knit layer and each of the first and second outer knit layers can be formed in a suitable manner, where one or more yarns formed along a course of the intermediate knit layer wrap around or interconnect with one or more yarns formed along a course of the first and/or second outer knit layer.
As indicated in
Referring to
As shown in
As previously noted, the distances/course lengths D1, D2 and D3 are defined in terms of rows or courses along the outer knit layers or the intermediate knit layer. Another manner of measuring the distance is based upon a measurement of the actual distance (e.g., in metric length) of the distance between two consecutive stitches. However, it is noted that the Poisson (auxetic or near auxetic) effect achieved for the multi-layered knit structure as described herein is based upon selection of course spacing between the knit layers instead of selection of specific stitch lengths (choosing lengths between stitches).
The intermediate knit layer 130 can be formed as a two way stretch fabric layer (i.e., stretch substantially in only the machine direction or only the cross/width direction of the fabric) or a four way stretch fabric layer. In particular, the intermediate knit layer can possess an elongation (stretch) value that is the same or can vary in the course direction compared with the wale direction of the intermediate knit layer. An elongation value (also referred to as a stretch value) refers to an amount of elongation of a yarn or material in a dimension (length or width) without shearing or breaking that is defined with the formula: [(elongated dimension−original dimension)/(original dimension)]×100. Recovery (elastic recovery or elasticity) is the ability of a yarn or material under load to recover its original size or near original size and shape immediately after removal of the stress that causes deformation. In an example embodiment, the intermediate knit layer can have a dominant degree or amount of stretch or elongation (i.e., greater elongation value) in the course direction (i.e., direction that opposes the wale direction of the first and second outer knit layers, or along the corrugation as shown in
The first and second outer knit layers can possess an elongation value that are the same or similar to each other and are less than the elongation value of the intermediate knit layer along each of the course and wale directions of the first and second outer knit layers. The first and second outer knit layers can also have the same or different elongation values along their course and wale directions. In an example embodiment, each of the first and second outer knit layers can possess an elongation value along the wale direction for each layer of less than 100% (e.g., no greater than about 50%).
The elongation properties of the layers combined with the corrugation configuration of the intermediate knit layer and the noted distances/course lengths between alternating connection points between the intermediate knit layer and the first and second outer knit layers provides unique stretch and recovery properties for the overall knitted fabric structure 100. In particular, a dynamic textile is formed that is capable of repeated stretching under load and recovery to original or near original size/lengths upon removal of the load. In other words, the stretch properties of the intermediate knit layer, combined with its corrugated shape and connection points (distances/course lengths) between the first and second outer knit layers facilitates a certain amount of overall stretch for the multilayered fabric material under load and, upon removal of the load, further drives the entire fabric material back to its normal, unstretched state.
Referring to
At some point (e.g., as shown in
Similarly, referring to
The multilayered knit structure as formed in the manner described herein is provided with stretch properties that, when undergoing stretching (e.g., as depicted in
An example embodiment of implementing the multilayered knit structure described herein in an article of apparel is depicted in
Other non-limiting, example embodiments in which the knit material structure is incorporated into apparel products are depicted in
An example embodiment is depicted in
The upper 302 includes a lateral side that aligns with the lateral or outer foot side and a medial side that aligns with the medial or inner foot side of the wearer. In the embodiment of
The knit material structure 100 can provide enhanced dynamic stretching, fit and comfort for the wearer of the shoe 300. The knit material structure 100 can be provided at any one or more suitable locations, such as in the toe cage section 320, the instep section 325 (e.g., at or near the tongue portion of the instep section), and at the collar section 320 of the upper 302. Further, the knit material structure can be provided in any one or more suitable orientations within the upper material so as to provide a particular or desired enhanced stretching effect to the upper material at a particular location along the upper. For example, the knit material structure 100 can be oriented at one or more locations at any of the toe cage section 320, instep section 325 and/or collar section 330 such that the course direction of the intermediate knit layer 130 (direction of stretch of the undulating or corrugated shape of layer 130) of the structure 100 is generally aligned along a direction that corresponds with a dimension of the upper 302 that is transverse its lengthwise dimension (i.e., dimension extending between toe and heel end of the upper). Alternatively, the knit material structure 100 can be oriented at any of these sections such that the course direction of the intermediate knit layer 130 is generally aligned in the lengthwise dimension of the upper (i.e., a dimension that extends between toe and heel end). Further, the knit material structure 100 can be provided at a plurality of locations and a plurality of different orientations with regard to how the course direction of the intermediate knit layer of the structure 100 aligns with the lengthwise dimension of the upper.
In another example embodiment depicted in
In a further example embodiment depicted in
Other example embodiments incorporating a multilayered knit material structure as described herein are also possible. For example, any textile material product can incorporate the knit material structure as described herein to enhance the stretchable properties of the product.
While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
For example, the multilayered knit material structure can be implemented in any textile article to enhance stretchability of the article at one or more locations independent of other locations of the article. The knit material structure includes a plurality of layers (e.g., three or more knit layers) that are coupled together and includes at least one knit layer that has a greater degree of elongation in relation to at least one other knit layer.
It is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”, “height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”, and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration.
Claims
1. A knit fabric structure comprising:
- a first knit layer;
- a second knit layer; and
- a resilient intermediate knit layer disposed between and coupling with the first knit layer and the second knit layer;
- wherein the intermediate knit layer has a corrugated shape along a first direction of the intermediate knit layer with consecutive peaks that are oriented in opposing directions such that the peaks comprise a set of first peaks oriented in a first peak direction and a set of second peaks oriented in a second peak direction that opposes the first peak direction, the first peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the first knit layer and the second peaks of the intermediate knit layer connect with the second knit layer.
2. The knit fabric of claim 1, wherein the first knit layer and second knit layer couple with each other only via the resilient intermediate knit layer.
3. The knit fabric structure of claim 1, wherein a wale direction for the first knit layer is aligned with a wale direction for the second knit layer, and a wale direction of the intermediate knit layer is transverse the wale direction for each of the first and second knit layers.
4. The knit fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the intermediate knit layer connects with the first knit layer via stitches at the first peaks, the intermediate knit layer connects with the second knit layer via stitches at the second peaks, and a distance D1 between a first stitch at a first peak and a second stitch at a second peak is from about 3 courses to about 6 courses along each of the first and second knit layers.
5. The knit fabric structure of claim 4, wherein a distance D2 between first stitches of consecutive first peaks connecting the intermediate knit layer with the first knit layer is from about 6 courses to about 12 courses along the first knit layer.
6. The knit fabric structure of claim 4, wherein a distance D2 between second stitches of consecutive second peaks connecting the intermediate knit layer with the second knit layer is from about 6 courses to about 12 courses along the second knit layer.
7. The knit fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the intermediate knit layer has a first elongation value in the first direction of the intermediate layer and a second elongation value in a second direction of the intermediate layer that is transverse the first direction, and the first elongation value is greater than the second elongation value.
8. The knit fabric structure of claim 7, wherein the each of the first knit layer and the second knit layer has an elongation value along a direction of each of the first knit layer and the second knit layer that is less than each of the first and second elongation values.
9. The knit fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the knit fabric structure exhibits a Poisson's ratio that is negative in response to stretching of the knit fabric structure in the first direction of the intermediate knit layer.
10. The knit fabric structure of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second knit layers stretches in a direction transverse the first direction of the intermediate knit layer in response to a stretching force being applied to the knit fabric structure in the first direction of the intermediate knit layer.
11. The knit fabric structure of claim 1, wherein the first knit layer and the second knit layer are formed of yarns comprising polyester.
12. The knit fabric structure of claim 11, wherein the intermediate knit layer is formed of yarns comprising elastane.
13. The knit fabric structure of claim 12, wherein the intermediate knit layer is formed of double covered yarns, wherein elastane forms a core of each double covered yarn.
14. An article of apparel comprising the knit fabric structure of claim 1.
15. A brassiere comprising the knit fabric structure of claim 1.
16. An article of footwear comprising the knit fabric structure of claim 1.
17. The article of footwear of claim 16, further comprising:
- a sole structure; and
- an upper comprising a lateral side, a medial side, a toe cage section located proximate a toe end of the upper, a collar section located proximate a heel end of the upper, and an instep section located between the lateral and medial sides and also between the toe cage section and the collar section;
- wherein the knit fabric structure is provided at one or more of the instep section and the collar section.
18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the knit fabric structure is provided at a first location and a second location along the upper such that a first orientation of the first direction of the intermediate knit layer for the knit fabric structure at the first location differs from a second orientation of the first direction of the intermediate knit layer for the knit fabric structure at the second location.
19. A method of forming a knit fabric structure including a plurality of layers, the method comprising:
- interlooping strands to form a first knit layer;
- interlooping strands to form a second knit layer; and
- interlooping strands to form an intermediate knit layer between the first and second knit layers such that the intermediate knit layer couples the first knit layer with the second knit layer, wherein the intermediate knit layer is further formed so as to have a corrugated shape along a first direction of the intermediate knit layer with consecutive peaks that are oriented in opposing directions to define a set of first peaks oriented in a first peak direction and a set of second peaks oriented in a second peak direction that opposes the first peak direction, the first peaks of the intermediate knit layer connecting with the first knit layer and the second peaks of the intermediate knit layer connecting with the second knit layer.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the forming of the intermediate knit layer and the coupling of the intermediate knit layer with the first and second knit layers occurs during the forming of each of the first and second knit layers.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2022
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2023
Inventors: Allison Hicks (Baltimore, MD), Michael Seiz (Baltimore, MD)
Application Number: 18/147,938