Fabric with embedded dispensing channels

Abstract

The fabric with embedded dispensing channels includes a fabric sheet with at least one flexible conduit integrated into the fabric sheet. The at least one flexible conduit has an inlet and a plurality of dispensing holes formed through at least one wall thereof. The at least one flexible conduit is hollow and defines an interior channel. Opposite the inlet, the at least one flexible conduit may have a closed end. A pump, compressor or the like may be fluidly connected to the inlet for transferring a substance into and through the at least one flexible conduit for dispensing through the dispensing holes.

Claims

1. A fabric with embedded dispensing channels that have luminous capability, comprising: a fabric sheet; and at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability integrated into the fabric sheet, the at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability further having an inlet and a plurality of dispensing holes formed through at least one wall thereof, the at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability being hollow and defining an interior channel, wherein said at least one flexible conduit is formed of an elastic material, wherein phosphorescent nanoparticles are embedded in the elastic material forming the flexible conduit such that the phosphorescent nanoparticles embedded in the elastic material forming the flexible conduit provide said luminous capability, and wherein said luminous capability is luminous with respect to visible light.

2. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, further comprising a substance for dispensing through the dispensing holes.

3. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 2, wherein the substance is a fragrance.

4. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 3, wherein the fragrance is selected from the group consisting of perfume, cologne, bakhoor, sandalwood, oud, citrus, lavender, frankincense, myrh, and combinations thereof.

5. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, wherein said elastic material comprises polydimethylsiloxane.

6. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of dispensing holes are distributed on only one side of the at least one wall of the at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability.

7. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of dispensing holes are distributed on opposed sides of the at least one wall of the at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability.

8. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability comprises a plurality of flexible conduits, the plurality of flexible conduits being arranged in a parallel configuration.

9. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability comprises a single flexible conduit having said luminous capability interwoven at least partially through the fabric sheet.

10. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a substance for dispensing through the dispensing holes; and a pump in fluid communication with the inlet for pumping the substance through the at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability.

11. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 10, wherein the substance is a fragrance.

12. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 11, wherein the fragrance is selected from the group consisting of perfume, cologne, bakhoor, sandalwood, oud, citrus, lavender, frankincense, myrh, and combinations thereof.

13. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a substance for dispensing through the dispensing holes; and a compressor in fluid communication with the inlet for transferring the substance into and through the at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability.

14. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 13, wherein the substance is a fragrance.

15. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 14, wherein the fragrance is selected from the group consisting of perfume, cologne, bakhoor, sandalwood, oud, citrus, lavender, frankincense, myrh, and combinations thereof.

16. The fabric with embedded dispensing channels as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one flexible conduit having said luminous capability is interwoven with the fabric sheet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a fabric with embedded dispensing channels.

(2) FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a portion of the fabric with embedded dispensing channels of FIG. 1A.

(3) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the fabric with embedded dispensing channels.

(4) FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of the fabric with embedded dispensing channels of FIG. 2A.

(5) FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a flexible conduit of the fabric with embedded dispensing channels.

(6) FIG. 3B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the flexible conduit of FIG. 3A.

(7) FIG. 4A is a front view of a compressor for use with the fabric with embedded dispensing channels.

(8) FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a pump for use with the fabric with embedded dispensing channels.

(9) Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the fabric with embedded dispensing channels 10 includes a fabric sheet 3 with at least one flexible conduit 2 integrated into the fabric sheet 3. In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the at least one flexible conduit 2 is interwoven with the individual fibers forming the fabric sheet 3. It should be understood that the at least one flexible conduit 2 may be integrated with the fabric sheet 3 in any configuration or using any suitable method. It should be further understood that the fabric sheet 3 may be any suitable type of fabric sheet, such as a sheet formed from one or more fibers by weaving, knitting or the like.

(11) The at least one flexible conduit 2 has an inlet 1 and a plurality of dispensing holes 2a formed through at least one wall thereof. The at least one flexible conduit 2 is hollow and defines an interior channel. Opposite the inlet 1, the at least one flexible conduit 2 may have a closed end. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a compressor 20a or a pump 20b, respectively, or any other suitable type of device for pressurizing fluid may be fluidly connected to the inlet 1 for transferring a substance into and through the at least one flexible conduit 2 for dispensing through the dispensing holes 2a. As a non-limiting example, the substance may be a fragrance, such as perfume, cologne, bakhoor, sandalwood, oud, citrus, lavender, frankincense, myrh, or combinations thereof.

(12) It should be understood that compressor 20a of FIG. 4A is shown for exemplary purposes only. Compressor 20a may be used, for example, for transferring pressurized gas into and through the at least one flexible conduit 2. In the non-limiting example of FIG. 4A, compressor 20a is connected to a source 21a of a gas through a gas inlet 22a. A gas outlet hose 23a is in connection with a gas diffuser connection pin 24a which is used to connect to the inlet 1. Similarly, it should be understood that pump 20b of FIG. 4B is shown for exemplary purposes only. Pump 20b may be used, for example, for transferring pressurized liquid into and through the at least one flexible conduit 2. In the non-limiting example of FIG. 4B, pump 20b is connected to a source 21b of liquid through a liquid inlet 22b. A liquid outlet hose 23b is in connection with a liquid outlet pin 24b which is used to connect to the inlet 1.

(13) The at least one flexible conduit 2 may be formed from an elastic material. As a non-limiting example, the at least one flexible conduit 2 may be formed from polydimethylsiloxane. As a further non-limiting example, phosphorescent nanoparticles may be embedded in the elastic material. The phosphorescent nanoparticles may be embedded in the at least one flexible conduit 2 during the manufacturing stage, for example. The phosphorescent nanoparticles may be selected such that they absorb light energy and emit the energy in the form of visible light slowly over time, creating a glow-in-the-dark effect, before returning to their non-illuminated state. In a non-limiting example, the phosphorescent nanoparticles may include zinc sulfide and/or strontium aluminate. Various colors may be emitted from the embedded phosphorescent nanoparticles, such as red, green, blue, yellow-green, etc. The color of the emitted light will depend on the energy levels of the phosphors and the wavelength of the light released as the phosphors return to their ground state from an excited state.

(14) In the non-limiting example of FIG. 3A, the plurality of dispensing holes 2a are shown as being distributed on only one side of the at least one wall of the at least one flexible conduit 2. In the alternative non-limiting example of FIG. 3B, the plurality of dispensing holes 2a are shown as being distributed on opposed sides of the at least one wall of the at least one flexible conduit 2. It should be understood that any suitable distribution of holes 2a may be used.

(15) In the non-limiting example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the at least one flexible conduit 2 includes a plurality of flexible conduits 2. Although it should be understood that any suitable arrangement of flexible conduits 2 may be used, in the non-limiting example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the plurality of flexible conduits 2 are shown arranged in a parallel configuration, where parallel in this context refers to an arrangement similar to the electrical components in a parallel circuit; i.e., arranged in a grid-type configuration.

(16) In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the fabric with embedded dispensing channels 100 includes a fabric sheet 103 with at least one flexible conduit 102 integrated into the fabric sheet 103, where the at least one flexible conduit 102 has holes 102a and an inlet 101 formed therethrough, similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B. However, in the non-limiting example of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the at least one flexible conduit 102 is provided as only a single flexible conduit 102 interwoven at least partially through the fabric sheet 3.

(17) While one potential use of the fabric with embedded dispensing channels 10/100 described above is the infusion of fragrance into a fabric, such as, for example, the infusion of bakhoor into a blanket, other potential uses are conceivable and fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Examples of additional uses include the dispersion of gases and liquids, such as oxygen, helium, sanitizers, and insecticide into a fabric. For example, sanitizer may be infused into a fabric such as a rug, carpet, or upholstery, thus reducing or eliminating bacteria which has built up within the fabric. In a further example, insecticide may be infused into a fabric such as a tent, blanket, or piece of clothing, thereby reducing or eliminating the presence of insects on or near the fabric.

(18) Therefore, it is to be understood that the fabric with embedded dispensing channels is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.