Disclosed herein is a warp knit spacer dual functional fabric construction that provides the ability to absorb sweat on one side and the ability to cool skin to below a current temperature whether wetted or dry on the other side. The knit uses four separate yarns which collectively work together to produce enhanced cooling. Knits can include warp knit spacer and circular knit spacer materials. Various finishing methods may also be employed to enhance the cooling power of the fabric.

A multi-ply knit fabric containing a first knit ply containing a plurality of first and second yarns, where the first knit ply forms the upper surface of the fabric. The first knit ply contains a first knit pattern having a repeating pattern of first areas and second areas, where within the first areas the first and second yarns are knitted together and within the second areas the first yarns are knitted together and the second yarns float across approximately the entire second areas. The first areas and second areas have at least one dimension within the plane of the first ply knit of at least about 0.5 mm. The fabric also contains a second knit ply forming the lower surface of the fabric and a plurality of stuffer yarns located between the first and second knit ply.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The three-dimensional spacer structure further includes a plurality of cells formed between the connecting members, and wherein one or more of the cells are filled with a filler material. The filler material may be foam or a thermoplastic elastomer.

A shear band and a non-pneumatic tire is described which includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connecting web positioned between a hub and the shear band. The shear band is preferably comprised of a three-dimensional spacer fabric having a first and second layer connected by connecting members. The three-dimensional spacer fabric has a defined depth. The first and second layer of fabric of the three-dimensional spacer structure are reinforced with a respective first and second layer of non-crimped fabric, eliminating the need for a rubber shear layer and reinforcement layers commonly used for the shear band.

The present disclosure describes implantable slings suitable for use in a variety of medical applications, the implantable slings include at least one a biocompatible support member having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces including a first end, a second end, and a central region positioned therebetween, a first set of fixation elements positioned on the first end of the first surface, a second set of fixation elements positioned on the second end of the first surface, and a spacer positioned on the central region of the first surface for contacting a tissue in need of support.

An article of footwear includes a knitted upper component and a thermoplastic polyurethane yarn stitched into a region of the knitted upper component. The thermoplastic polyurethane yarn is fused with the knitted component at the region of the knitted upper component. The article of footwear may include at least one of an outer sole and a midsole connected to the upper, with at least one of the outer sole and the midsole formed of knitwear.

An article of footwear can include an upper. The upper includes a knitted portion having yarns partially fused to adjacent yarns and filaments of the partially fused yarns that are partially fused to adjacent filaments. Methods for manufacturing an article of footwear including an upper having a partially fused knitted portion are also described.

A multiple-layer knitted fabric includes: an inner composite layer formed with hydrophilic yarn and hydrophobic yarn adapted to be contacted with a wearer's skin: an outer dissipating layer formed with hydrophilic yarn or hydrophobic yarn adapted for dissipating moisture and heat outwardly: and a spacer layer integrally formed between the inner and outer layers and formed with hydrophilic yarn for absorbing the moisture of the wearer's sweat from the inner layer and temporarily storing the moisture in the spacer layer, through which the moisture is gradually outwardly transported into the outer layer and then dissipated into the outside atmosphere: thereby keeping the wearer's cool in summer and warm in winter for enforcing his or her comfortable wearing.

Examples of a knitted or woven fabric with moisture management function are described, comprising a face fabric layer with a durable water repellency (DWR) additives forming a fabric outer surface that is hydrophobic and a back fabric layer comprising a second yarn that is highly hydrophilic forming a moisture regain core to absorb the moisture and spread it across on an inside surface of the back fabric layer. The outer (face) layer of the fabric is hydrophobic due to the added DWR additives to the first yarn while the inner (back) layer of the fabric is highly hydrophilic that absorbs and spreads the moisture across the inner side of the back layer so that it dries faster making the outer surface of the face fabric layer dry thus reducing the occurrence of water I liquid spots on the face layer outer surface.

A three-dimensional reinforced membrane is designed to be inflated and used in various structural applications. A dropstitch or double wall fabric may be reinforced with one or more coatings, such as urethane-based coatings, and may also be laminated in accordance with various disclosed embodiments.