Fabric having moisture management features

Abstract

A fabric with moisture management properties has a pattern of hydrophobic areas comprising at least one hydrophobic agent provided at least on the first side of the fabric and at least one hydrophilic agent which is provided in a pattern on at least some regions of said first side of the fabric, whereby said first side has a pattern of hydrophobic areas and a pattern of hydrophilic areas to transfer the moisture from the first side to the second side.

Claims

1. A fabric (1), having a first side (11), a second side (12), a body (13) extending from said first side (11) to said second side (12); at least one hydrophobic agent (14), provided at least on said first side (11) of said fabric (1) as a pattern of hydrophobic areas (16), wherein said fabric (1) comprises: at least one hydrophilic agent (15) which is provided on at least some regions of said first side (11) of the fabric (1), whereby said first side (11) has the pattern of said hydrophobic areas (16) and a pattern of hydrophilic areas (17), to transfer moisture (30) from said first side (11) to said second side (12), wherein said pattern of hydrophobic areas (16) comprises hydrophobic areas (16) having a spiral shape which extend from said first side (11) into said body (13) of the fabric (1) for a depth (D) ranging from 20% to 80% of the thickness of said body (13); and wherein said fabric (1) is an elastic woven fabric that can be stretched up to 100% of its initial length in at least weft or warp direction measured according to ASTM D3107.

2. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic areas (16) comprise a hydrophobic agent (14) and a hydrophilic agent (15).

3. The fabric (1) according to claim 2, wherein said hydrophobic areas (16) comprise a film on the first side (11) of the fabric (1).

4. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein the minimum distance between two adjacent said hydrophobic areas (16) is in the range of 0.3 to 0.4 mm.

5. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein the maximum distance between two adjacent said hydrophobic areas (16) is in the range of 1.6 to 2.1 mm.

6. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic agent (15) and/or said hydrophobic agent (14) is thermofixed to the fabric (1) and/or crosslinked.

7. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said fabric (1) is an elastic woven fabric that can be stretched up to 100% of its initial length, both in weft and warp directions.

8. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic agent (15) extends through the body (13) of the fabric (1) and wherein said hydrophobic areas (16) extend from said first side (11) into said body (13) of the fabric (1) for a depth (D) ranging from 20% to 70% of the thickness of said body (13).

9. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic areas (16) extend through said body (13) of said fabric (1) for different depths (D).

10. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said elastic woven fabric (1) is a denim fabric.

11. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of hydrophobic areas (16) has an irregular distribution on said first side (11) of said fabric (1).

12. The fabric (1) according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of hydrophobic areas (16) comprises hydrophobic areas (16) having at least one of the same shape and the same dimension.

13. A garment comprising a fabric (1) according to claim 1.

14. The garment according to claim 13, wherein said pattern of hydrophobic areas (16) comprises hydrophobic areas (16) having at least one of different shapes and different dimensions in different areas of the garment.

15. The garment according to claim 13, wherein the elastic woven fabric (1) is a denim fabric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the section of a fabric according to the invention placed in contact with the skin of the user.

(2) FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are schematic views of the section of three embodiments of the fabric of the invention.

(3) FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are schematic views of the section of three embodiments of the fabric of the invention.

(4) FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 are schematic representations of the top view of embodiments of the fabric having hydrophobic areas with spiral shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) With reference to FIG. 1, the fabric according to the invention has a first side, a second side, a body extending from said first side to said second side; at least one hydrophobic agent, provided at least on said first side of said fabric as a pattern of hydrophobic areas; at least one hydrophilic agent which is provided on at least some regions of said first side of the fabric, whereby said first side has a pattern of hydrophobic areas and a pattern of hydrophilic areas, to transfer the moisture from said first side to said second side.

(6) In FIG. 1 it is schematically shown a section of a preferred embodiment of the fabric of the invention. Specifically, a fabric 1, having a first side 11, a second side 12 and a body 13, is shown.

(7) In this preferred embodiment, hydrophilic agent 15 extends from the first side 11 to the second side 12 of the fabric 1 and throughout the body 13 of the fabric 1.

(8) Hydrophobic agent 14 is provided on the fabric 1, thus providing hydrophobic areas 16. Hydrophobic areas 16 extend from the first side 11 into the body 13 of the fabric 1 for a depth D (dashed line) of the thickness of body 13. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, all the hydrophobic areas 16 extend into the body 13 of the fabric 1 for the same depth D of the thickness of body 13.

(9) In FIG. 1 is illustrated an embodiment of the fabric 1 according to the invention, wherein the hydrophilic agent 15 extends from the first side 11 to the second side 12 of the fabric 1 and throughout the body 13 of the fabric 1; in other words, fabric 1 is impregnated with the hydrophilic agent 15. In other embodiments, the hydrophilic agent 15 may be provided only on some regions of the first side 11 of the fabric 1.

(10) The hydrophilic agent 15, can therefore be provided on some regions of the first side 11 of the fabric 1 and can extend from the first side 11 throughout the body 13 without reaching the second side 12 of the fabric 1.

(11) FIG. 1 shows that first side 11 of fabric 1, is provided with a pattern of hydrophobic areas 16. Between the hydrophobic areas 16, a pattern of areas provided with the hydrophilic agent 15, i.e. a pattern of hydrophilic areas 17, is shown.

(12) For clarity, in FIG. 1, the fabric 1 is shown to be closer to the user's skin 20; however, the fabric 1 can directly contact the skin of the user.

(13) The moisture 30 (herein shown as “droplets”), which forms between the skin 20 and the first side 11 of the fabric 1, is absorbed into the body 13 of the fabric 1 at the level of the hydrophilic areas 17 of the first side 11, i.e. the areas that are provided with the hydrophilic agent 15. Hydrophobic areas 16 repel the moisture 30, which therefore concentrates in correspondence of the areas of the first side 11 that are provided with the hydrophilic agent 15. The moisture 30 is absorbed into the body 13 of the fabric 1, and is transported through the body 13 of the fabric 1 by means of hydrophilic pathways, defined by the hydrophilic agent 15.

(14) The route followed by the moisture 30, from the first side 11, throughout the body 13, up to the second side 12 of the fabric 1, is schematically indicated by the arrows A. Arrows A′ schematically represents the evaporation of moisture 30 which occurs at the level of second side 12 of the fabric 1.

(15) As above mentioned, hydrophobic areas 16 extend from said first side 11 into said body 13 of the fabric 1 for a depth D. Depth D can range from 5% to 95%, preferably 20% to 80%, more preferably 20% to 70%, even more preferably 30% to 60%. A most preferred value is about 50% of said body's 13 thickness. Depth D of the hydrophobic areas 16 can be designed according to the moisture management features desired.

(16) FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show three embodiments of the fabric 1 of the present invention. In particular, in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, hydrophilic agent 15 extends from the first side 11 to the second side 12 of the fabric 1 and throughout the body 13 of the fabric 1. Hydrophobic agent 14 is provided on the fabric 1, thus providing hydrophobic areas 16. A pattern of hydrophilic areas 17 is present between the hydrophobic areas 16.

(17) In FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the provided hydrophobic areas 16 can extend from the first side 11 into the body 13 of the fabric 1 for depth D′, D″ and D′″ (dashed lines) of the body's 13 thickness, different for each embodiment of the fabric 1.

(18) For example, in FIG. 2A, depth D′ is about 20% of the body's 13 thickness; in FIG. 2B, depth D″ is about 50% of the body's 13 thickness, and in FIG. 2C, depth D′″ is about 80% of the body's 13 thickness. In the embodiments of fabric 1 illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, all the hydrophobic areas 16 have, in each embodiment, the same depth D′ or D″ or D′″.

(19) Additionally to the depth for which the pattern of hydrophobic areas extends into the fabric's body's thickness, the hydrophobic areas may have several different shapes, and/or dimensions and/or distribution in the fabric.

(20) For example, the hydrophobic areas 16 of the hydrophobic pattern may have a spiral shape; namely, the first side 11 may present hydrophobic areas 16 having a spiral shape, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B.

(21) Furthermore, considering, for example, the first side of the fabric, also the hydrophilic areas/hydrophobic areas ratio can be designed according to the moisture management features desired.

(22) FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show three other embodiments of the fabric 1 of the invention.

(23) In FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, hydrophilic agent 15 extends from the first side 11 to the second side 12 of the fabric 1 and throughout the body 13 of the fabric 1. Hydrophobic agent 14 is provided on the fabric 1, thus providing hydrophobic areas 16. A pattern of hydrophilic areas 17 is present between the hydrophobic areas 16.

(24) FIG. 3A shows that different hydrophobic areas 16 can extend from the first side 11, into the body 13 of the fabric 1 for a different depth D′, D″ or D′″ (dashed lines) of the thickness of body 13, in the same fabric 1.

(25) In FIG. 3B is shown an embodiment of fabric 1, wherein all the hydrophobic areas 16 in the fabric 1 extend from the first side 11, into the body 13 of the fabric 1, for the same depth D (dashed line) of the body's 13 thickness. FIG. 3B shows a fabric 1 wherein hydrophobic areas 16 are smaller and more numerous in comparison with the fabric 1 of, for example FIGS. 2A-2C and 3A and 3C.

(26) Therefore, hydrophobic areas 16 can have different dimension, according to the moisture management features required.

(27) In FIG. 3C is shown a fabric 1 in which all the hydrophobic areas 16 in the fabric 1 extend from the first side 11, into the body 13 of the fabric 1, for the same depth D (dashed line). FIG. 3C shows a fabric 1, where the hydrophobic areas 16 have a not homogeneous distribution in the fabric 1, and have also different dimensions.

(28) For example, in a preferred embodiment, the fabric of the invention can be provided, for example, on its first side, with an “irregular” distribution and concentration of hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. For example, when the hydrophobic areas of the hydrophobic pattern have a spiral shape, the hydrophobic areas having spiral shape may be distributed on the fabric (e.g. on the first side of the fabric) in order to provide a fabric wherein adjacent hydrophobic areas and/or adjacent hydrophilic areas have not the same dimensions.

(29) Therefore, in embodiments, the fabric can be provided with regions wherein a majority of hydrophobic areas is present, and with other regions wherein a majority of hydrophilic areas is present.

(30) FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 show embodiments of the fabric having hydrophobic areas comprising lines having a spiral shape.

(31) FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 shows two embodiments of the fabric 1, wherein a pattern of hydrophobic areas 16 having a spiral shape have been provided. In FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5, hydrophobic areas 16 are applied on the first side 11 of the fabric 1. FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 show that hydrophobic areas 16, which have a spiral shape, may have different structures and different dimensions (i.e. extension) in the same fabric 1.

(32) Additionally, 4A shows an embodiment wherein the hydrophobic area/total fabric area ratio is higher than in FIG. 4B.

(33) For sake of simplicity, FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 shows an embodiment wherein the first side 11 of the fabric 1 has been provided with a hydrophilic agent 15 to provide hydrophilic areas 17: in other words, in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5, between and around hydrophobic areas 16, and between the lines (i.e. the “coils”) of the hydrophobic spirals, hydrophilic areas 17 are provided.

(34) As above mentioned, when the hydrophobic areas 16 of the hydrophobic pattern have a spiral shape; the hydrophobic areas 16 having spiral shape may be provided to the fabric so that areas of the fabric having the same extension have different hydrophilic/total area ratio.

(35) In FIG. 5 an axis W′, which cuts the fabric of the invention along the weft direction is shown. FIG. 5 shows that an axis which cuts the fabric of the invention along the weft direction (or, according to different embodiments, along the warp direction), cuts a plurality of hydrophobic areas 16 that are separated by a plurality of different distance X′; X″ between a hydrophobic area and the adjacent one which is cut by the same axis W′.

(36) In particular, FIG. 5 shows that axis W′ cuts two hydrophobic areas 16 that are separated by a first distance X′, and also cuts two other hydrophobic areas 16 separated by a second distance X″, which is smaller than first distance X′.

(37) Suitable methods for applying the agents to the fabric are, for example, impregnating the agent into the fabric, for the hydrophilic agent, and screen printing, for the hydrophobic agent. The agents are preferably applied to the fabric after its removal from the loom and before the fabric undergoes a washing; in other words, the pattern of the two agents is applied to a fabric before it is shrunk. It should also be noticed that the hydrophobic spiral pattern could be applied on a fabric free from hydrophilic agents. According to an embodiment, the above discussed spiral pattern could include or by replaced by open curved lines that do not follow a spiral shape, provided the same effect of maintaining capillarity when the garment is stretched is obtained.

(38) The invention also provides a garment comprising a fabric as above disclosed; a garment comprising the fabric of the invention is provided with the moisture management features of the fabric.

(39) In some embodiments, in a garment, the fabric of the invention is confined to specifically selected parts of the garment; the rest of the garment can be therefore made of any other suitable material.

(40) As discussed above, the fabric of the invention can be provided with different moisture management features and efficiency, which can be modulated by adjusting some parameters, such as, for example, the geometry, shape, dimension, distribution and depth of, for example, the pattern of hydrophobic areas.

(41) Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, a garment can be made of a “patchwork” of different embodiments of the fabric of the invention, thus providing to different parts of the garment, different moisture management feature.

(42) In another embodiment, a garment according to the invention can be made of a fabric according to a single embodiment, i.e., the fabric has the same moisture management features over the all garment.