A fabric-based item may be provide with a stretchable band. The stretchable band may be formed from a ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric having an opening configured to fit around a body part of a user. Circuitry may be coupled to strands of material in the stretchable band. The circuitry may include sensor circuitry for making measurements on the body part such as electrocardiogram measurements, blood pressure measurements, and respiration rate measurements. Wireless communications circuitry in the fabric-based item may be used to communicate wirelessly with external electronic equipment. A wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power. A coil formed from conductive strands in the fabric-based item may be used by wireless power receiving circuitry in the fabric-based item to receive the wireless power. The coil may have one or more turns that run around the ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric.

A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.

A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.

A structural member includes an inflatable bladder. The structural member may include a fabric shell disposed about an exterior surface of the bladder, or a spacer element attached to an interior surface of the bladder. The fabric shell or spacer element restrains the shape of the bladder to contour the bladder into a desired shape and increase the load carrying capacity of the bladder.

A structural member includes an inflatable bladder. The structural member may include a fabric shell disposed about an exterior surface of the bladder, or a spacer element attached to an interior surface of the bladder. The fabric shell or spacer element restrains the shape of the bladder to contour the bladder into a desired shape and increase the load carrying capacity of the bladder.

A fabric includes an inner textile layer, an outer textile layer, and a middle textile layer. The inner textile layer includes a plurality of microfiber yarns and a plurality of elastic fiber yarns. The outer textile layer includes a plurality of composite yarns. The middle textile layer is between the inner textile layer and the outer textile layer and has a plurality of wave-like polyester fiber yarns. Further, the outer textile layer includes a first weaving region and a second weaving region. The content of the composite yarns in the first weaving region is greater than the content of the composite yarns in the second weaving region.

A fabric includes an inner textile layer, an outer textile layer, and a middle textile layer. The inner textile layer includes a plurality of microfiber yarns and a plurality of elastic fiber yarns. The outer textile layer includes a plurality of composite yarns. The middle textile layer is between the inner textile layer and the outer textile layer and has a plurality of wave-like polyester fiber yarns. Further, the outer textile layer includes a first weaving region and a second weaving region. The content of the composite yarns in the first weaving region is greater than the content of the composite yarns in the second weaving region.

A medical fabric obtained by a rapier loom such, having an upper fabric layer, a lower fabric layer and a hollow part defined between the lower fabric layer and the upper fabric layer in such a way to form a three dimensional structure in order to decrease the pressure exerted on the body parts of patients. The fabric has a dimensional surface which allows the upper fabric layer to form a textured structure by defining the hollow part due to the tension exerted on the lower fabric layer at the end of the loom.

A panel (10) comprises a first woven fabric (26), a second woven fabric (28), and a linking structure comprising stays (74) linking the first woven fabric (26) to the second woven fabric (28), at least some of the stays (74) of the linking structure having an at-rest length that is different from the mean h.sub.m of the at-rest lengths of the stays (74), and the first woven fabric (26) being plastically deformable in at least one of its main directions.

A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.