TEXTILE DEVICE, A GARMENT AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TEXTILE DEVICE

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided a textile device comprising: a first fabric comprising at least one electrically conductive wire; an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is fixated to the first fabric and wherein the at least one electrically conductive wire is electrically connected to the electronic component; wherein the textile device has a transition region at an area of the first fabric arranged laterally from the electronic component; wherein the textile device further comprises a strengthening element at the transition region, wherein the strengthening element comprises: a second fabric arranged around the first fabric; and a thermoplastic material arranged in relation to at least a first portion of the second fabric, wherein the thermoplastic material is arranged around the first fabric and fills a spacing between the first fabric and the second fabric at least in the first portion of the second fabric.

Claims

1. A textile device comprising: a first fabric comprising at least one electrically conductive wire; an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is fixated to the first fabric and wherein the at least one electrically conductive wire is electrically connected to the electronic component; wherein the textile device has a transition region at an area of the first fabric arranged laterally from the electronic component; wherein the textile device further comprises a strengthening element at the transition region, wherein the strengthening element comprises: a second fabric arranged around the first fabric; and a thermoplastic material arranged in relation to at least a first portion of the second fabric, wherein the thermoplastic material is arranged around the first fabric and fills a spacing between the first fabric and the second fabric at least in the first portion of the second fabric.

2. The textile device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material is further arranged in relation to a second portion of the second fabric, wherein the thickness of the thermoplastic material arranged in relation to the first portion of the second fabric is larger than the thickness of the thermoplastic material arranged in relation to the second portion of the second fabric, wherein the first portion of the second fabric is located closer to the electronic component than the second portion of the second fabric.

3. The textile device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material is further arranged on a side of the second fabric facing away from the first fabric.

4. The textile device according to claim 1, wherein the second fabric is a knitted fabric or a woven fabric.

5. The textile device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component is covered by an enclosure.

6. The textile device according to claim 5, wherein the enclosure covers a part of the transition region, such that the strengthening element partly is arranged under the enclosure.

7. The textile device according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive wire extends along a straight line.

8. The textile device according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive wire is exposed at a fixation point of the electronic component.

9. The textile device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component is a sensor, actuator or microcontroller, such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor or a movement sensor.

10. A garment comprising the textile device according to claim 1.

11. A method for producing a textile device, the method comprising: (a) fixating an electronic component to a first fabric comprising at least one electrically conductive wire, such that the at least one electrically conductive wire is connected to the electronic component, wherein a transition region is defined at an area of the first fabric arranged laterally from the electronic component; (b) arranging a strengthening element at the transition region, wherein said arranging comprises: (i) arranging a layer of thermoplastic material at least in relation to a first portion of a second fabric; (ii) arranging the second fabric around the first fabric, such that the thermoplastic material is arranged around the first fabric, and wherein at least a portion of a first edge of the second fabric is attached to a second edge of the second fabric to create a loop; (iii) hardening of or laminating the thermoplastic material, such that the thermoplastic material fills a spacing between the first fabric and the second fabric.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein in (b)(ii) the thermoplastic material is further arranged in relation to a second portion of the second fabric, wherein the thickness of the layer arranged in relation to the first portion of the second fabric is larger than the thickness of the thermoplastic material arranged in relation to the second portion of the second fabric.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein in (b)(i) or in (b)(ii) a temporary protection layer is arranged between the first fabric and the thermoplastic material arranged in relation to the second portion of the second fabric, wherein the method after (b)(iii) further comprises (b)(iv) removing the temporary protection material.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein in (b)(ii) two layers of the thermoplastic material are arranged at opposite sides of the second fabric.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein after (b)(iii) an enclosure is arranged such that it covers the electronic component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present inventive concept, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings like reference numerals will be used for like elements unless stated otherwise.

[0081] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a textile device according to a first embodiment.

[0082] FIG. 1b is a cross section of the textile device of FIG. 1a.

[0083] FIG. 1c is a cross section of the textile device of FIG. 1a.

[0084] FIG. 2a is a cross section of the textile device of FIG. 1a.

[0085] FIG. 2b is a cross section of the textile device of FIG. 1a.

[0086] FIG. 3a is a cross section of the textile device of FIG. 1a.

[0087] FIG. 3b is a cross section of the textile device of FIG. 1a.

[0088] FIG. 4 is a garment comprising the textile device.

[0089] FIG. 5 is a method for producing a textile device.

[0090] FIG. 6 is an alternative method for producing the textile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0091] FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of a part of a textile device 100. The textile device 100 comprises a first fabric 101. The first fabric 101 may be a knitted or woven fabric, or any other kind of fabric. The first fabric 101 comprises at least one electrically conductive wire 102. The electrically conductive wire 102 is a wire for carrying electrical signals. In FIG. 1a four electrically conductive wires 102 are shown, however it should be understood that it may be 1, 2, 3, 10 or 40 number of wires. The at least one electrically conductive wire 102 extends along a straight line along a longitudinal extension of the first fabric 101. However, it should be understood that the conductive wires may extend along a fiber or a string, not being a straight line. It may extend along a zigzag pattern or meandering pattern. Further, it should be understood that the electrically conductive wire 102, such as a metal wire, may be mounted on the first fabric 101. However, also or additionally the first fabric 101 may be made of conductive fibers, yarns or fabrics or it may comprise a mix of materials wherein one of the materials are conductive fibers, yarns or fabrics. Moreover, the first fabric 101 may be a textile which at least in part is treated with metals to obtain conductivity. Thus, the electrically conductive wire 102 may be integrated into the first fabric 101.

[0092] The textile device 100 further comprises an electronic component 103. The electronic component 103 is fixated to the first fabric 101 and in electrical connection to the at least one electrically conductive wire 102. The electronic component 103 may be electrically connected through the at least one electrically conductive wire 102 to another electronic component. For instance, the electronic component 103 may be connected to a battery for providing power to the electronic component 103 through the electrically conductive wire.

[0093] As can be seen in FIG. 1a, the first fabric 101 as well as the at least one electrically conductive wire 102 may extend on opposite sides of the electronic component 103. Thus, the at least one electrically conductive wire 102 may connect to a plurality of electronic components 103 along the first fabric 101. The electronic component 103 may be a sensor, actuator or microcontroller, such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor or a movement sensor.

[0094] The electronic component 103 is covered by an enclosure 104. The enclosure 104 is in FIG. 1a depicted as a rigid enclosure 104, however the enclosure may be a flexible enclosure 104 as well. Further, the size and shape of the enclosure 104 may vary depending on the use of the textile device 100. The enclosure 104 may comprise epoxy, polyurethane and/or silicone compounds.

[0095] Further, the textile device 100 has a transition region 105 at an area of the first fabric 101 arranged laterally from the electronic component 103. As is illustrated in FIG. 1a, the electronic component 103 is arranged with the first fabric 101 reaching out on two sides of the electronic component 103. Thus, transition regions 105 are located on both lateral sides of the electronic component 103. At the transition region 105, the risk for breakage of the at least one electrically conductive wire is extra high due to the change from the stiffer electronic component 103 and/or the enclosure 104 to the softer first fabric 101. The transition region 105 may be 1-4 cm long, such as 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm, 2.5 cm, 3 cm, 3.5 cm or 4 cm long.

[0096] To reduce the risk of damage to the at least one electrically conductive wire 102, the textile device 100 comprises a strengthening element 106 at the transition region 105. The strengthening element 106 is partly arranged under the enclosure 104 covering the electronic component 103, such that the enclosure 104 overlaps the strengthening element 106. The strengthening element 106 comprises a second fabric 107 arranged around the first fabric 101. The strengthening element may further be divided into a first portion 107a and a second portion 107b. In FIG. 1a, the first portion 107a is arranged closer to the electronic device 103 and the rigid enclosure 104 than the second portion 107b. However, it should be understood that it could be the other way around. Thus, for all embodiments disclosed, the first portion 107a may be arranged closer to the electronic component 103 than the second portion 107b or the second portion 107b may be arranged closer to the electronic component 103 than the first portion 107a.

[0097] The strengthening element 106 further comprises a thermoplastic material 108. The thermoplastic material 108 cannot be seen in FIG. 1a but will be more discussed in relation to further figures. The thermoplastic material 108 is arranged in relation to at least the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107. The thermoplastic material 108 is arranged around the first fabric 101 and fills a spacing between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107 at least in the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107.

[0098] FIG. 1b illustrates a cross section of the textile device 100 at the cross-sectional area G1 in FIG. 1a. The cross section shows the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107 of the strengthening element 106. The second fabric 107 is arranged around the first fabric 101 surrounding the cross-section of the first fabric 101. As can be seen in FIG. 1a, the second fabric 107 may be looped around the first fabric 101. The second fabric 107 may be a woven fabric or a knitted fabric.

[0099] Moreover, the strengthening element 106 comprises a thermoplastic material 108. The thermoplastic material 108 may be thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). As illustrated in FIG. 1b, the thermoplastic material 108 is arranged in one layer. However, it should be understood that it may be arranged in several layers. A layer of thermoplastic material may be 100-250 ?m thick. Thus, it may be 100 ?m, 150 ?m, 200 ?m and 250 ?m thick.

[0100] The thermoplastic material 108 is arranged in relation to at least the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107. The first portion 107a of the second fabric 107 may be arranged closer to the electronic device 103 than a second portion 107b of the second fabric 107. As is shown in FIG. 1b, the thermoplastic material 108 is arranged around the first fabric 101, in a corresponding way as the second fabric 107 and fills a spacing between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107. Thus, the thermoplastic material 108 aligns the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107, such that it both fills the spacing between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107 and further fills the overlap of the second fabric 107 when it loops around the first fabric 101. Thus, the thermoplastic material 108 may be used to attach one end of the second fabric 107 to a second end of the second fabric 107 for forming a loop of the second fabric 107.

[0101] FIG. 1c illustrates a cross section of one embodiment of the textile device 100 at the cross-sectional area G2 in FIG. 1a. The cross section shows the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107 of the strengthening element 106.

[0102] The second fabric 107 is arranged around the first fabric 101. However, there is no thermoplastic material 108 arranged in between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107 at the second portion 107b. Thus, the second fabric 107 is looped around the first fabric 101, but it is not attached to the first fabric 101 at the second portion 107b.

[0103] FIG. 2a illustrates a cross section of the textile device 100 at the cross-sectional area G1 in FIG. 1a according to a second embodiment. For reasons of simplicity, the similarities between FIG. 1b and FIG. 2a are not repeated.

[0104] FIG. 2a illustrates an embodiment having a similar cross-section of the strengthening element 106 as in FIG. 1b. Thus, the strengthening element comprises a second fabric 107 arranged around the first fabric 101. Further, thermoplastic material 108 is arranged at the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107.

[0105] FIG. 2b illustrates a cross section of the textile device 100 at the cross-sectional area G2 in FIG. 1a. The cross-sectional area of FIG. 2b illustrates the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107. As can be seen in FIG. 2b, the thermoplastic material 108 is further arranged in relation to the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107. The thermoplastic material 108 arranged in relation to the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107 has a larger thickness than the thermoplastic material 108 being arranged in relation to the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107.

[0106] It should however be understood that the thermoplastic material 108 arranged in relation to the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107 could as well have the same thickness as the thermoplastic 108 arranged in relation to the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107.

[0107] FIG. 3a illustrates a cross section of the textile device 100 at the cross-sectional area G1 according to a third embodiment. For reasons of simplicity, the similarities between FIG. 1b, FIG. 2a and FIG. 3a are not repeated.

[0108] FIG. 3a illustrates that the thermoplastic material 108 is further arranged on a side of the second fabric 107 facing away from the first fabric 101. Thus, in addition to having the thermoplastic material 108 arranged between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107, the thermoplastic material 108 may also be arranged on the outside of the second fabric 107.

[0109] As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the thermoplastic material 108 arranged between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107 and arranged in relation to the first portion 107a of the second fabric 107 fills the spacing between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107.

[0110] FIG. 3b illustrates a cross section of the textile device 100 at the cross-sectional area G2 in FIG. 1a. The cross-sectional area of FIG. 3b illustrates the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107. As can be seen in FIG. 3b, the thermoplastic material 108 is at the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107 arranged on a side of the second fabric 107 facing away from the first fabric 101. However, it should be understood that this may not be true for all embodiments. In some embodiments, there may be no thermoplastic material 108 arranged in relation to the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107.

[0111] Further, it should be realized that the thermoplastic material 108 may also be arranged on the side of the second fabric 107 facing the first fabric 101.

[0112] FIG. 4 illustrates a garment 200 comprising the textile device 100. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the garment 200 may be a jacket or any other clothing, comprising a textile device 100. The textile device 100 may have a sensor as the electronic component 103, such that the jacket is a smart jacket allowing the user to gain information from the sensor.

[0113] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 300 for producing the textile device 100. The method 300 comprises fixating 301 the electronic component 103 to the first fabric 101. The fixating is made such that the at least one electrically conductive wire 102 is electrically connected to the electronic component 103. This may be made by exposing the at least one electrically conductive wire 102 at the point of fixation of the electronic component 103.

[0114] When the electronic component 103 is fixated to the first fabric 101, the transition region 105 is defined as an area of the first fabric arranged laterally from the electronic component 103.

[0115] The method further comprises arranging 302 the strengthening element 106 at the transition region 105. The arranging 302 comprises arranging 302i a layer of thermoplastic material 108 at least in relation to a first portion 107a of a second fabric 107. Further, the second fabric 107 is arranged 302ii around the first fabric 101, such that the thermoplastic material 108 is arranged around the first fabric 101. At least a portion of a first edge of second fabric 107 is attached to a second edge of the second fabric 107 to create a loop. Thus, the second fabric 107 is arranged 302 around the first fabric 101 and attached to itself to create a closed loop. As an alternative, the thermoplastic material 108 can be further arranged in relation to a second portion 107b of the second fabric 107. The thickness of the thermoplastic material 108 may be larger for the thermoplastic material arranged in relation to the first portion 107a than the thermoplastic material 108 arranged in relation to the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107.

[0116] If a thermoplastic material 108 is arranged in relation to the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107, a temporary protection layer is arranged between the first fabric 101 and the thermoplastic material 108 arranged in relation to the second portion 107b of the second fabric 107. This may be done after 302i or after 302ii, but before 302iii. The temporary protection layer serves the purpose of hindering the thermoplastic material 108 to adhere to the first fabric 101.

[0117] Even further, the thermoplastic material 108 may be arranged at opposite sides of the second fabric 107. This may be made during step 302ii.

[0118] Then, the method may comprise a hardening 302iii of or laminating the thermoplastic material 108, such that the thermoplastic material 108 fills a spacing between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107. The hardening may be made at temperature 130-180 degrees, for the time 10-60 seconds and under 2-5 bar pressure.

[0119] If a temporary protection layer is arranged between the first fabric 101 and the thermoplastic material 108, the method further comprises removing 302iv the temporary protection material.

[0120] Moreover, an enclosure 104 may be arranged such that it covers the electronic component 103. Further, the enclosure 104 may be arranged such that it partly covers the transition region 105, in such a way that it overlaps with the strengthening element 106.

[0121] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative method 400 for producing a textile device 100. The method 400 comprises fixating 401 an electronic component 103 to the first fabric 101 comprising at least one electrically conductive wire 102. During fixation 401, the at least one electrically conductive wire 102 is electrically connected to the electronic component 103. After fixation, a transition region 105 is defined at an area of the first fabric laterally from the electronic component 103 and the first fabric 101.

[0122] Further, the method 400 comprises arranging 402 a strengthening element 106 at the transition region 105. The arranging 402 comprises arranging 402i a layer of thermoplastic material 108 on the second fabric 107.

[0123] The method further comprises hardening 402ii or laminating 402ii the thermoplastic material 108 on the second fabric 107. The hardening or lamination is made at a temperature of 130-180 degrees, for the time 10-60 seconds and under 2-5 bar pressure.

[0124] After hardening or lamination 402ii, the laminated second fabric 107 is arranged 402iii around the first fabric 101. At least a portion of a first edge of second fabric 107 is attached to a second edge of the second fabric 107 to create a loop. Thus, the second fabric 107 is arranged around the first fabric 101 and overlaps itself to create a loop.

[0125] To attach the laminated second fabric 107, there is a second hardening 402iv or lamination 402iv of the thermoplastic 108 at the strengthening element 106, such that the thermoplastic material 108 fills a spacing between the first fabric 101 and the second fabric 107.

[0126] In the above the inventive concept has mainly been described with reference to a limited number of examples. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other examples than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended claims.