AU2016349411B2

AU2016349411B2 - Sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone

Info

Publication number: AU2016349411B2
Application number: AU2016349411A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bodo Lambertz
Original assignee: X Technology Swiss GmbH
Current assignee: X Technology Swiss GmbH
Priority date: 2015-11-04
Filing date: 2016-11-04
Publication date: 2021-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-04
Also published as: DK3370555T3; SI3370555T1; CA3002310A1; CA3002310C; EP3370555B1; PL3370555T3; US20180317582A1; CN108289518A; ES2779775T3; JP6896727B2; JP2018538451A; AU2016349411A1; WO2017077040A1; KR20180077208A; CN108289518B; RU2018120355A; RU2720956C2; RU2018120355A3; DE102015118892A1; HK1254990A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone (10.1) which is made of a textile fabric structure (11.1) that is shirred locally via tension zones (15.1) so as to form webs (14.1). The webs are designed to contact the skin (200) of the wearer on the interior of the fabric structure (11.1), and inner air channels (13.1) are formed between the webs. At least one groove which forms an outer air channel (18.1) is formed on the rear face of each of the webs (14.1) on the shirred sheet structure (11.1). The controlled temperature zone (10.1) is equipped with a plurality of individualized controlled temperature elements (12.1) which are contained in short webs (14.1) that are separated from one another by lateral separation zones (16.1). Adjacent inner air channels (13.1) are connected together by the separation zones (16.1), and the separation zones (16.1) are laterally offset to one another between the controlled temperature elements (12.1) such that the controlled temperature elements (12.1) are arranged so as to at least partly overlap with respect to the length of the vertical body axis (X).

Description

Piece of Sportswear with at least one Controlled Temperature Zone

The invention relates to a piece of sportswear with at least one

controlled temperature zone having the features in the preamble

to claim 1.

Such a piece of sportswear is known from EB 1 476 033 Bl. It

comprises web-shaped partial areas, which are thickened, and

thus contact the skin and form outer air channels on their rear

face, as well as areas that do not contact the skin, which form

inner air channels. Sweat is absorbed on the webs contacting the

skin on the inside of the piece of sportswear, and then wicked

away by the webs, and can evaporate via the outer air channels.

Evaporation results in local cooling. Air can flow between the

webs in the inner air channels, and thereby bring about a

temperature compensation. In order to be able to capture the

sweat that trickles down, the webs are aligned essentially

transverse to the body axis. While these proven controlled

temperature zones do permit outstanding sweat absorption, they

have the disadvantage that air circulation in the controlled

temperature zone is only possible parallel to the webs. Warmed

air cannot rise along the body axis inside of the controlled

temperature zone.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve a

piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature

zone of the kind mentioned at the outset in terms of air

circulation, while keeping the good characteristics with respect

to sweat absorption and sweat evaporation.

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The present invention proposes a piece of sportswear with the

features in claim 1 as the solution.

According to the present invention, the controlled temperature

zones do not comprise webs and air channels that are

continuously aligned parallel to each other, but rather comprise

several isolated controlled temperature elements, of which each

is separately designed in the known manner, but only has at

least one web that does not extend over the entire width of the

controlled temperature element. The controlled temperature

elements are separated from each other in a transverse direction

to the vertical body axis by lateral separation zones.

Within the meaning of the present invention, separation zones

are the areas laterally next to a controlled temperature element

or between two adjacent controlled temperature elements. The

controlled temperature elements are also separated from each

other vertically, specifically by transversely running or

inclined inner air channels, as already the norm according to

prior art. The separation zones are basically also inner air

channels, but the linguistic differentiation serves to better

characterize the invention with regard to the ensuing directions

in which air flows upward and sweat runs off.

The controlled temperature elements are enveloped by textile

fabrics. Formed between the latter are the inner channels,

through which air circulates. The controlled temperature

elements are arranged in such a way that drops of sweat on the

skin cannot run from the top down through the entire controlled

temperature zone, because they are respectively captured in a

lower lying sweat collection area, the ensuing web lying on the

skin. To this end, the controlled temperature elements 2

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU positioned at varying heights relative to the vertical body axis are laterally offset to each other. The elements can be arranged in various ways, which all share in common that the areas contacting the skin and those not contacting the skin alternate or are offset relative to each other so as not to allow a drop of sweat to continue trickling down. At the same time, the offset controlled temperature elements only present a slight obstacle to rising air. The air on the skin surface can circulate in several directions, since air channels in the vertical are kept open by the arrangement of controlled temperature elements with interspersed separation zones. As a result, warmed air can rise through the controlled temperature zone. The chimney effect associated therewith improves moisture removal, and thus cooling of the skin.

The arrangement preferably follows a uniform pattern, but can

also be non-uniform, as long as the basic principles of the

invention are followed during the formation and arrangement of

controlled temperature elements, specifically of providing

separation zones to enable a vertical air flow on the one hand,

and arranging the separation zones laterally offset on the

other, so that sweat trickling down can be captured in the

respective rows lying the next level down. The controlled

temperature zones with the controlled temperature elements are

thus optimally adjusted to the body zones that sweat especially

heavily during sports activity.

The offset arrangement relates in particular to a vertical body

axis. However, this does not necessarily mean that the alignment

has to be exactly vertical when an athlete is wearing the piece

of sportswear in the invention, but rather is intended to

characterize a direction of air flow, i.e., the direction in 3

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU which the warmed air can rise along the body surface of the athlete. Of course, this direction of air flow will somehow be directed against the direction of gravity in the usual movement patterns of the athlete, wherein not only a precisely vertical, but also inclined direction of air flow is possible. Several flow vanes can also be formed on the piece of sportswear or even inside of the same controlled temperature zone, meaning the air flow can be fanned out. It is only important in terms of the invention that the direction of air flow not be interrupted by the barriers lying in the flow path that are formed in prior art by the webs.

The direction in which the drops of sweat run off extends

opposite the direction of air flow. According to the invention,

this direction is in turn to be interrupted, so as to capture

the sweat trickling down. Such a barrier created by the

laterally offset arrangement of controlled temperature elements

need not be present in each row of controlled temperature

elements. A sequence of rows without barriers can also be

detached by at least one pair of rows offset relative to each

other, in which the sweat is then captured.

The controlled temperature zones can be generated by knitting,

but also by adhesively bonding elements onto fabrics or other

textiles.

The shape and arrangement of the controlled temperature elements

can be selected in different ways, wherein all embodiments share

in common that the areas contacting the skin and those not lying

on the skin alternate with each other or are offset relative to

each other so as to prevent a drop of sweat from trickling down

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18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU unimpeded, and instead capture each drop of sweat again as quickly as possible.

In horizontal projection, the controlled temperature elements

can be shaped like a Y, a V, an X, a double-Y or the like, for

example, since these shapes are readily suitable for capturing a

drop, while at the same time posing only a slight obstacle to laterally passing, rising air.

The controlled temperature zones on the clothing can vary in

configuration in the overall extension, with the inclusion of

all individual controlled temperature elements, so as to yield

various additional advantages. For example, they can be

vertically elongated to achieve a pronounced chimney effect, and

to in this way be able to transport air from as far down as

possible and transport it toward the top at the collar of a

shirt or a pant waistband, where it then exits.

The textile fabric structure is preferably a knitted fabric that

forms the controlled temperature zone, and is either specially

designed for this purpose or connected with the base fabric of

the piece of sportswear. In order to form the structures that

rise in relation to the body axis and are visible on the

following figures, the following measures can be provided while

knitting:

- Linear row offset

- Linear, uniform offset of individual meshes

- Non-uniform offset of individual meshes

- Alternating row offset of mesh zones, which yields a

preform

- Alternating, uniform offset of individual meshes, and

- Alternating, non-uniform offset of individual meshes.

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The invention will be explained in greater detail below with

reference to the fingers. The figures specifically show:

Fig. 1 A schematic, perspective view of a cutout of a

controlled temperature zone of a piece of

sportswear

Fig. 2 to 5 A respective top view of a controlled

temperature zone with controlled temperature

elements in varying configurations

Fig. 6 A schematic top view of a knitted controlled

temperature zone, and

Fig. 7 A perspective view of the controlled temperature

zone according to Fig. 1

Fig. 1 shows a controlled temperature zone 10.1 in a textile

fabric structure 11.1, wherein it can be a woven or a knitted

fabric. For example, the controlled temperature zone 10.1 is

arranged on a piece of sportswear, and there formed on the

respective body parts where especially profuse sweating takes

place during physical exercise.

In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the controlled temperature

zone 10.1 consists of a uniform arrangement of individual

controlled temperature elements 12.1. Each controlled

temperature element 12.1 in itself has at least one area in

which the woven or knitted fabric is less elastic and/or shirred

by shorter tension zones 15.1, thereby yielding a configuration

shaped like a U or V in cross section on the inside of the piece

of clothing to be facing the skin 200 of the wearer. This

results in a so-called web 14.1 on the inside of the textile

fabric structure 11.1. Sweat is captured at the areas of the tip

of the web 14.1 contacting the skin 200, and absorbed by the 6

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU textile. Inner air channels 13.1 are formed between the webs

14.1 contacting the skin 200, through which air can circulate

over the skin surface.

The captured sweat is partially transported via the textile,

hygroscopic lateral walls of the webs 14.1 to the top side of

the controlled temperature zone 12.1 until into the surrounding

areas 17.1 of the controlled temperature elements 12.1, which

are kept a specific distance away from the skin surface 200 by

the webs 14.1. The sweat can here evaporate especially well. The

evaporative cooling in turn cools the air in the inner air

channels 13.1 lying below the surrounding areas 17.1.

Channel-shaped structures arise on the rear face of the webs

14.1 and form outer air channels 18.1, through which evaporation

also takes place.

Because the outer air channels 18.1 are not completely spanned

by the tension zones 15.1, captured sweat can also evaporate

through them without heat accumulating at the controlled

temperature elements 12.1.

The controlled temperature elements 12.1 are arranged in the

textile fabric structure 11.1 in such a way as to establish two

essential directions, specifically a body axis X that runs

essentially vertically with the wearer in an upright posture and

corresponds to an air flow direction, and a direction transverse

thereto, which runs perpendicularly to the body axis or at an

obtuse angle thereto. In the transverse direction, the

individual controlled temperature elements 12.1 are separated

from each other by the surrounding areas 17.1, among which inner

air channels 13.1 are formed. The webs 14.1 of adjacent 7

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU controlled temperature elements 12.1 are further separated from each other by separation zones 16.1 in their extension in the transverse direction.

While the outer air channels 18.1 formed in the channels of the

shirred textile are also interrupted at the separation zones

16.1, there is a transverse connection joining together the

individual inner air channels 13.1 on the inside of the

controlled temperature zone 10.1, underneath these separation

zones 16.1. The separation zones 16.1 and inner air channels

13.1 are thus parts of an air channel network, which is formed

on the inner side of the fabric structure 11.1 to be facing

toward the body side of the wearer.

The resultantly achieved effects will be explained below by the

respective top view of the different exemplary embodiments of

controlled temperature zones 10.2, ... , 10.6 designed according to

the invention, which are depicted on Fig. 2 to 6.

Fig. 2 shows a cutout of a controlled temperature zone 10.2

according to another embodiment of the invention. The latter can

be formed directly on a textile fabric structure 11.2, from

which the adjoining areas of the piece of sportswear are also

formed. The controlled temperature zone 10.2 can also be

fabricated separately, and connected with the remaining areas of

the piece of sportswear.

Fig. 2 presents a view of the inside of the controlled

temperature zone 10.2 to be facing the skin. The dark areas are

provided for contacting the skin, while the light areas in

between maintain a distance from the skin surface when the piece

of clothing is worn with the controlled temperature zone 10.2. 8

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU

Several rows of individual, respectively Y-shaped controlled

temperature elements 12.2 are arranged in the controlled

temperature zone 10.2, specifically in such a way that one of

the legs of the Y-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.2 is

aligned in the vertical direction, i.e., parallel to the body

axis X. In addition, the row of controlled temperature elements

12.2 is also shifted in the transverse direction in adjacent

rows of controlled temperature elements 12.2. As a result, a

collection area 19.2 for sweat drops is always present anywhere

that a separation point 16.2 between the controlled temperature

elements 12.2 exists in the overlying row, and hence an inside

air channel 13.2 is formed in between. In the embodiment

according to Fig. 2, the collection area 19.2 is formed by the

splayed legs of the Y-shaped controlled temperature elements

12.2. The thin, dash-dot lines with the upwardly pointing arrows

denote the so-called air flow direction, i.e., the path taken by

the air A warmed on the skin on the inner side of the textile

fabric structure 11.2 facing the skin. By contacting the skin,

the controlled temperature elements 12.2 shown as dark zones act

as a barrier, and cause the air flows to be diverted. As a

result of the arising chimney effect, the warm air is removed as

it moves past the obstacles and toward the top.

At the same time, sweat can trickle from the top down, as

represented by the thick, solid lines on the left of Fig. 2.

Sweat drops that arise directly in the area between adjacent

controlled temperature elements 12.2 run directly onto the

underlying controlled temperature element 12.2, which according

to the exemplary embodiment on Fig. 2 is achieved by the

controlled temperature elements 12.2 in the second and fourth

row being transversely offset relative to those in the first, 9

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU third and fifth rows. The effects of capturing the streaming sweat S and rising warmed air A overlap everywhere; the paths of the sweat S and air A are depicted on Fig. 2 in separate areas of the drawing for illustrative purposes only.

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of a controlled temperature zone

10.3 designed according to the invention. Here as well, the

paths of the sweat S are denoted on the left by thick,

downwardly pointing arrows, while the paths of air A are denoted

on the right by thin, dashed arrows and lines. The body axis

once again runs vertically. Respective rod-shaped controlled

temperature elements 12.3 are arranged in the left and right

areas of the controlled temperature zone 10.3. The air A can

once again rise through the inner air channels 13.3 and

separation zones between the controlled temperature elements

12.3, 12.3'. Controlled temperature zones 12.3 are here arranged

among each other in a V-shaped form in a central zone. A sweat

collection area 19.3 is formed inside of the controlled

temperature element 12.3 with a downwardly pointing tip. In

terms of the lateral, rod-shaped controlled temperature elements

12.3', the arrangement is such that the offset resulting in the

formation of a sweat collection zone 19.3' is not caused by

laterally offsetting the rows of controlled temperature elements

12.3, 12.3', but rather that the inclination and spacing of the

rod-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.3' are coordinated

in a way that sweat drops running by the respective upper ends

of the controlled temperature elements 12.2' are captured at a

lower end of an adjacent controlled temperature element 12.3'.

In principle, the illustration on Fig. 4 corresponds to the

illustrations described above with respect to the paths for the

10

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU sweat S and air A, as well as to the alignment of a controlled temperature zone 10.4 in relation to a vertical body axis.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, individual rod-shaped

controlled temperature elements 12.4 are aligned one in back of

the other in their longitudinal extension, and are separated

from each other by separation zones 16.4 on the narrow sides.

Several rows of controlled temperature elements 12.4 are

arranged one over the other, wherein there are respective

surrounding areas 17.4 between the rows that form inner air

channels 13.4 that run in a transverse direction to the body

axis. There is an offset of half a raster width between the rows

of controlled temperature elements 12.4 in the transverse

direction, so that sweat drops trickling down through the

separation zones 16.4 are caught in a collection area 19.4. The

collection area 19.4 is formed by the respective controlled

temperature element 12.4 lying in the row thereunder and

arranged like a crossbeam.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of a controlled temperature zone

10.5. The paths for the sweat and air are not depicted in this

case, since they also run the same as in the embodiments

described above. As illustrated by the exemplary embodiment of

the controlled temperature zone 10.5 according to Fig. 5,

controlled temperature elements 12.5 can also be arranged

without a uniform raster. The controlled temperature elements

12.5 on Fig. 5 each have varying lengths per row, and the offset

between the rows of controlled temperature elements 12.5 among

each other has no uniform measure coupled to the length of the

controlled temperature elements 12.5. It is only essential that

sweat collection areas 19.5 once again be provided underneath a

separation zone, which also forms an inner air channel 13.5. 11

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU

Fig. 6 presents another top view of a controlled temperature

zone 10.6, which is arranged in a textile fabric structure 11.6

designed as a knitted fabric. The step-shaped structure depicted

on Fig. 6 serves to illustrate the individual meshes. Webs 14.6

and outer air channels 18.6 formed on their rear face consist of

mesh rows, for example, while a tension zone 15.6 spanning

the outer air channel 18.6 only has a width of three mesh rows.

The width of the outer air channels 18.6 can be increased in a

similar proportion by providing up to twenty five mesh rows to

form an outer air channel 18.6, while the tension zones 15.6

spanning these areas have only about ten mesh rows, thereby

resulting in a shirring effect. Viewed in the longitudinal

extension of the outer air channels, the tension zones 15.6 have

a length of two to seven meshes, and are spaced apart from each

other by five to twenty meshes, thereby yielding non-spanned

chambers with a width of five to twenty meshes for the outer air

channels 18.6. The parts of controlled temperature elements

12.6 arranged one over the other and comprising the outer air

channels 18.6 are separated from each other by inner air

channels 13.6 with a width of four to thirty mesh rows.

Fig. 7 shows a single controlled temperature element 12.1 in a

textile fabric structure 11.1 with its three-dimensional

structure as viewed in perspective on the exterior of the

clothing. As clearly depicted, no sharp boundary edges are

present in a piece of sportswear designed according to the

invention, which only arise graphically in the schematic

illustrations on Fig. 2 to 6. Readily evident is the shirring of

the textile woven or knit by the tension zones 15.1 and the

channel-shaped structure extending underneath, which forms the

so-called outer air channel 18.1. 12

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to

herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the

prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the

art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description,

except where the context re-quires otherwise due to express

language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or

variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an

inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated

features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further

features in various embodiments of the heater.

13

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU

Reference List

10.1... 10.6 Controlled temperature zone

11.1... 11.6 Fabric structure

12.1... 12.6 Controlled temperature element

13.1... 13.6 Inner air channel

14.1 ... 14.6 Web

15.1... 15.6 Tension zone

16.1... 16.6 Separation zone

17.1... 17.6 Surrounding areas

18.1... 18.6 Outer air channel

19.1... 19.6 Sweat collection zone

200 Skin

S Sweat

A Air

14

18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU

Claims

Claims:

1. A piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone comprising a textile fabric structure, which is locally shirred over tension zones into webs, wherein the webs are designed to contact the skin of the wearer on the inner side of the fabric structure wherein inner air channels are formed between adjacent webs, wherein a respective at least one channel is formed on a rear face of the webs on the shirred fabric structure, and forms an outer air channel, and wherein several webs are arranged in a controlled temperature zone,

wherein - a plurality of isolated controlled temperature elements are arranged in the controlled temperature zone, and contain webs that are separated from each other by lateral separation zones, - adjacent inner air channels on the inner side of the fabric structure are connected with each other by the separation zones, and - the separation zones between the controlled temperature elements are laterally offset to each other. .

2. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein the controlled temperature elements in at least one controlled temperature zone are at least partially angled, and include an angle of 1200 to 1500.

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3. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at

least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is

shaped like an inverted Y in at least one controlled

temperature zone.

4. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at

least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is

shaped like an upright Y in at least one controlled

temperature zone.

5. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at

least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is

shaped like an inverted or upright V in at least one

controlled temperature zone

6. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein at

least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is

rod shaped and extends transversely or at an inclination to

the body axis in at least one controlled temperature zone.

7. The piece of sportswear according to any one of claims 1 to

6, wherein the textile fabric structure comprising webs and

tension zones is part of a separately fabricated controlled

temperature element, which is connected with a base fabric

of the piece of sportswear.

8. The piece of sportswear according to any one of claims 1 to

7, wherein the textile fabric structure is a woven fabric,

wherein the webs consist of a shirred base woven fabric,

and the tension zones have a reduced mesh number by

comparison to the base woven fabric.

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18051724_1 (GHMatters) P108534.AU

9. The piece of sportswear according to claim 8, wherein the

controlled temperature zones have structures that run both

inclined and offset to the body axis due to linearly or

alternatingly offset rows in the fabric structure.

10. The piece of sportswear according to claim 8, wherein the

controlled temperature elements have structures that run

both inclined and offset to the body axis, wherein a

linearly uniform or non-uniform offset of individual meshes

and/or an alternatingly uniform or non-uniform offset of

individual meshes are provided in the fabric structure.

11. The piece of sportswear according to any one of the

preceding claims, wherein the controlled temperature

elements are laterally offset with respect to each other

such that sweat falling from an upper controlled

temperature element through a separation zone is captured

by a lower controlled temperature element.

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