AU2014201839B1

AU2014201839B1 - An item of clothing and associated manufacturing method

Info

Publication number: AU2014201839B1
Application number: AU2014201839A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Zijun Qian; Sichao Xie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-28
Filing date: 2014-03-28
Publication date: 2015-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-28

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an item of clothing, in the form of an exercise shirt 10, and a manufacturing method for same. The shirt 10 comprises a front 12 and back 14, and side panels 16 connected between the front and back. The front 12 and back 14 define a first area and the side panels 16 define a second area extending from an armpit area 18 of the shirt to the waist hem 20. The front 12 and back 14 have a thermochromatic material applied thereto to cause them to change colour in response to temperature. The side panels 16 are devoid of thermochromatic material such that they do not to change colour in response to temperature.

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ZIJUN QIAN AND SICHAO XIE COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Title: An item of clothing and associated manufacturing method The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to clothing and more particularly to clothing that changes colour in response to temperature. The clothing has been developed primarily for use during exercise to indicate the effect of the exercise. However, it will be appreciated that the clothing is not limited to this particular use may also have other applications. Background [0002] The vast majority of clothing for use during exercise is not temperature responsive. However, there are some articles of clothing that are adapted to change colour in response to temperature, including some designed particularly for use during exercise. Such known clothing is typically made temperature-responsive by being dyed or screen printed with a thermochromatic material. The dyeing or screen printing takes place after the item of clothing is assembled. In these known items of clothing, the entire garment is generally temperature responsive. [0003] It will be appreciated that during exercise certain parts of the body tend to display an elevated temperature before other parts of the body. For example, the area under the armpits tends to be an area that displays an elevated temperature before other parts of the body. Accordingly, with known items of clothing, areas that the user would prefer not to be highlighted, for example under the armpits, tend to change colour first. [0004] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Summary [0005] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

3 [0006] Throughout this specification the term "change colour", or variations such as "change in colour" or "colour change", will be understood to mean a change in colour or in intensity of colour; for example, changing from orange to yellow or from blue to light blue. [0007] In a first aspect, there is provided an item of clothing comprising: a first area that is adapted to change colour in response to temperature, the first area being formed from a fabric having a non-thermochromic material applied thereto and overlaid by a thermochromic material, wherein the non-thermochromic material is obscured by the thermochromic material until the thermochromic material changes colour in response to temperature and wherein the non-thermochromic material is exposed by the thermochromic material changing colour in response to temperature; and a second area that is adapted not to change colour in response to temperature by being devoid of thermochromic material, wherein: the item of clothing is selected from the group consisting of: a shirt in which the second area comprises one or more of an armpit area of the shirt and a chest area of the shirt; and shorts or pants in which the second area comprises a crotch area of the shorts or pants. [0008] The non-thermochromic material may be applied in a pattern. The pattern may, for example, be a word or phrase, such as a motivational word or phrase, or may be a picture or logo. [0009] The thermochromic material may be applied in a continuous layer. [0010] The item of clothing may be a shirt, in which case the first area may comprise a front and back of the shirt. The second area may comprise an armpit area of the shirt. In some embodiments, the second area may extend on each side of the shirt from the armpit area to the waist hem. In some embodiments, for example in shirts for women, the second area may comprise a chest area of the shirt. [0011] The first fabric may comprise 85.5% polyester and 14.5% "spandex knit fabric". The second fabric may comprise 85.5% polyester and 14.5% "spandex knit fabric".

4 [0012] The item of clothing may comprise twin needle stitching at the hems and a three needle cover stitch at fabric joins. [0013] The thermochromatic material may be an ink comprising a water soluble dispersed paste in which temperature-sensitive colourant is compounded in a high concentration, such as that manufactured by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd and sold under the trade mark Chromicolor@ Aqualite ink. [0014] The thermochromic material may be adapted to change colour at a temperature of over 30 degrees Celsius, over 32 degrees Celsius, or over 33 degrees Celsius. [0015] The thermochromatic material may be adapted to undergo a first colour change at a first temperature and a second colour change at a second temperature. [0016] The thermochromatic material may comprise a first thermochromatic material and a second thermochromatic material, wherein the first thermochromatic material undergoes a colour change at a first temperature and the second thermochromatic material undergoes a colour change at a second temperature. [0017] In a second aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing an item of clothing, comprising: providing a bulk quantity of a first fabric for an item of clothing, the first fabric having a non-thermochromic material applied thereto; printing thermochromic material on the bulk quantity of the first fabric, such that the non-thermochromic material is overlaid by the thermochromic material, wherein the non thermochromic material is obscured by the thermochromic material until the thermochromic material changes colour in response to temperature and wherein the non-thermochromic material is exposed by the thermochromic material changing colour in response to temperature; providing a bulk quantity of a second fabric for the item of clothing, the second fabric being devoid of thermochromic material; cutting at least a first panel from the bulk quantity of the first fabric to form a first area of the item of clothing that is adapted to change colour in response to temperature; cutting at least a second panel of from the bulk quantity of the second fabric to form a second area of the item of clothing that is adapted not to change colour in response to temperature; 5 connecting the at least a first and the at least a second panel together to form the item of clothing, wherein the item of clothing is selected from the group consisting of: a shirt in which the second area comprises one or more of an armpit area of the shirt and a chest area of the shirt; and shorts or pants in which the second area comprises a crotch area of the shorts or pants. [0018] The non-thermochromic material may be applied in a pattern. The thermochromic material may be applied in a continuous layer. [0019] The thermochrotic material may be mixed with a binding agent prior to being printed on the first fabric. The thermochromic material may be screen printed on the first fabric. [0020] The first fabric may comprise 85.5% polyester and 14.5% "spandex knit fabric". The second fabric may comprise 85.5% polyester and 14.5% "spandex knit fabric". [0021] In embodiments where the item of clothing is a shirt, the first area may comprise a front and back of the shirt. In some embodiments, the second area may extend on each side of the shirt from the armpit area to the waist hem. In some embodiments, for example in shirts for women, the second area may comprise a chest area of the shirt. [0022] The item of clothing may comprise twin needle stitching at the hems and a three needle cover stitch at fabric joins. [0023] Thermochromic material may be applied to the item of clothing in a pattern so as to cause an image to appear or disappear on the item of clothing in response to changing temperature. The image may, for example, be a motivational word or phrase, or may be a picture or logo. [0024] The thermochromic material may be an ink comprising a water soluble dispersed paste in which temperature-sensitive colourant is compounded in a high concentration, such as that manufactured by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd and sold under the trade mark Chromicolor@ Aqualite ink.

6 [0025] The first area may be adapted to change colour at a temperature of over 30 degrees Celsius, over 32 degrees Celsius, or over 33 degrees Celsius. [0026] The thermochromic material may be adapted to undergo a first colour change at a first temperature and a second colour change at a second temperature. The thermochromic material may comprise a first thermochromic material and a second thermochromic material, wherein the first thermochromic material undergoes a colour change at a first temperature and the second thermochromic material undergoes a colour change at a second temperature. [0027] Also disclosed herein is an item of clothing formed using the method disclosed above. Brief Description of Drawings [0028] An embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a shirt manufactured using an embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, shown in a cool temperature configuration; Fig. 2 is a back view of the shirt of Fig. 1, shown in a cool temperature configuration; 6a Fig. 3 is a side view of the shirt of Fig. 1, shown in a cool temperature configuration; Fig. 4 is a front view of the shirt of Fig. 1, shown in a warm temperature configuration; Fig. 5 is a back view of the shirt of Fig. 1, shown in a warm temperature configuration; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the shirt of Fig. 1, shown in a warm temperature configuration. Description of Embodiments [0029] Referring to the drawings, there is shown an item of clothing, in the form of a men's exercise shirt 10. The shirt 10 comprises a front 12 and back 14, and side panels 16 connected between the front and back. The front 12 and back 14 define a first area and the side panels 16 define a second area extending from an armpit area 18 of the shirt to the waist hem 20. The front 12 and back 14 have a thermochromatic material 30 applied thereto to cause them to change colour in response to temperature. The side panels 16 are devoid of thermochromatic material such that they do not to change colour in response to temperature. [0030] The manufacturing process for the shirt 10 involves the following steps. Firstly, a bulk quantity of fabric for the temperature responsive parts of the shirt 10 is pre-printed with a pattern of non-thermochromic material 32. The pattern may, for example, be a geometric pattern, a logo or a word or image, such as a motivational word or image. The non-thermochromic material 32 is then overlaid with a continuous layer of thermochromic material 30 that obscures the pattern 7 of non-thermochromic material, such that the pattern becomes visible when the thermochromic material changes colour in response to temperature, as shown in Fig. 4. [0031] In the illustrated male shirt embodiment, panels for the front 12 and back 14 of the shirt are cut from the bulk quantity of the thermochromically pre-printed first fabric. The side panels 16 are cut from a bulk quantity of fabric devoid of thermochromic material. The front, back and side panels are then connected together to form the shirt 10. Twin needle stitching is used at the hems and a three needle cover stitch is used at fabric joins of the shirt 10. The fabric for both the front 12 and back 14, along with the side panels 16, comprises 85.5% polyester and 14.5% "spandex knit fabric". In a women's version of the shirt 10, the chest area may also be formed from a panel of material devoid of thermochromic material such that the chest area also does not to change colour in response to temperature. [0032] The thermochromatic material 30 is an ink comprising a water soluble dispersed paste in which temperature-sensitive colourant is compounded in a high concentration, such as that manufactured by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd and sold under the trade mark Chromicolor@ Aqualite ink. The ink is mixed with a binding agent and screen printed on fabric for forming the front 12 and back 14. The ink is configured to cause the front 12 and back 14 to change colour at a temperature of between 33 to 36 degrees Celsius. [0033] It will be appreciated that the illustrated shirt 10 has areas 12, 14 that change colour with temperature and other areas 16 that do not change colour with temperature. Advantageously, this means that when a wearer begins exercising, areas of the shirt that the wearer does not wish to highlight, such as the armpit areas, do not have a colour change response to temperature. However, other areas which the wearer may wish to highlight, such as the chest area, do change colour in response to temperature. Screen printing of the thermochromatic material 30 has been found to be preferable to dyeing using thermochromatic material, as dyed thermochromatic material tends to fade more quickly and is also more difficult to apply in a pattern to depict words or images. It will also be appreciated that by having the area(s) 16 of the shirt devoid of thermochromatic material confined to separate pieces of fabric to the areas 12, 14 that include thermochromatic material 30, manufacture of the shirt is simplified, since the thermochromatic material 30 can be applied to the fabric in bulk prior to individual pieces being cut for the shirt, rather than needing to be carefully applied to only the desired areas of the shirt as would be the case if the shirt were formed from a single piece of fabric and/or if the shirt was printed with thermochromic material post-assembly.

8 [0034] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Examples of possible variations and/or modifications include, but are not limited to: * the first area 12, 14 being dyed with a thermochromatic material rather than screen printed; * the thermochromatic material may be colourless or of a lighter shade at a cool temperature and may be adapted to become coloured or darker in shade at a warm temperature; * the thermochromatic material may be adapted to undergo a first colour change at a first temperature and a second colour change at a second temperature; * the thermochromatic material may comprise a first thermochromatic material and a second thermochromatic material, wherein the first thermochromatic material undergoes a colour change at a first temperature and the second thermochromatic material undergoes a colour change at a second temperature; * the item of clothing being a singlet rather than a shirt; and/or * the item of clothing being shorts or pants rather than a shirt, with the second area comprising a crotch area of the shorts or pants.

Claims

1. An item of clothing comprising: a first area that is adapted to change colour in response to temperature, the first area being formed from a fabric having a non-thermochromic material applied thereto and overlaid by a thermochromic material, wherein the non-thermochromic material is obscured by the thermochromic material until the thermochromic material changes colour in response to temperature and wherein the non-thermochromic material is exposed by the thermochromic material changing colour in response to temperature; and a second area that is adapted not to change colour in response to temperature by being devoid of thermochromic material, wherein: the item of clothing is selected from the group consisting of: a shirt in which the second area comprises one or more of an armpit area of the shirt and a chest area of the shirt; and shorts or pants in which the second area comprises a crotch area of the shorts or pants.

2. An item of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the non-thermochromic material is applied in a pattern.

3. An item of clothing according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the thermochromic material is applied in a continuous layer.

4. An item of clothing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, being a shirt, wherein the second area also extends on each side of the shirt from the armpit area to the waist hem.

5. An item of clothing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, being a shirt, wherein the first area comprises a front and back of the shirt.

6. An item of clothing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermochromic material is adapted to change colour at a temperature of over 30 degrees Celsius.

7. An item of clothing according to claim 6,wherein the thermochromic material is adapted to change colour at a temperature of over 33 degrees Celsius. 10

8. An item of clothing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermochromc material is adapted to undergo a first colour change at a first temperature and a second colour change at a second temperature.

9. An item of clothing according to claim 8, wherein the thermochromic material comprises a first thermochromatic material and a second thermochromic material, wherein the first thermochromic material undergoes a colour change at a first temperature and the second thermochromatic material undergoes a colour change at a second temperature.

10. A method of manufacturing an item of clothing, comprising: providing a bulk quantity of a first fabric for an item of clothing, the first fabric having a non-thermochromic material applied thereto; printing thermochromic material on the bulk quantity of the first fabric, such that the non-thermochromic material is overlaid by the thermochromic material, wherein the non thermochromic material is obscured by the thermochromic material until the thermochromic material changes colour in response to temperature and wherein the non-thermochromic material is exposed by the thermochromic material changing colour in response to temperature; providing a bulk quantity of a second fabric for the item of clothing, the second fabric being devoid of thermochromic material; cutting at least a first panel from the bulk quantity of the first fabric to form a first area of the item of clothing that is adapted to change colour in response to temperature; cutting at least a second panel of from the bulk quantity of the second fabric to form a second area of the item of clothing that is adapted not to change colour in response to temperature; connecting the at least a first and the at least a second panel together to form the item of clothing, wherein the item of clothing is selected from the group consisting of: a shirt in which the second area comprises one or more of an armpit area of the shirt and a chest area of the shirt; and shorts or pants in which the second area comprises a crotch area of the shorts or pants.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first area is adapted to change colour at a temperature above 30 degrees Celsius. 11

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the first area is adapted to change colour at a temperature above 33 degrees Celsius.

13. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the thermochromic material is an ink comprising a water soluble dispersed paste in which temperature-sensitive colourant is compounded.

14. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the thermochromic material is mixed with a binding agent and before being printed on the first fabric.

15. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, the item of clothing being a shirt, wherein the second area comprises an armpit area of the shirt and an area on each side of the shirt extending from the armpit area to the waist hem.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the shirt is a women's shirt and the second area further comprises a chest area of the shirt.

17. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, using twin needle stitching for hems and a three needle cover stitch at fabric joins.

18. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the thermochromic material is adapted to undergo a first colour change at a first temperature and a second colour change at a second temperature.

19. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the thermochromic material comprises a first thermochromic material and a second thermochromic material, wherein the first thermochromic material undergoes a colour change at a first temperature and the second thermochromic material undergoes a colour change at a second temperature.

20. An item of clothing manufactured according to a method as defined in any one of claims 10 to 19.