DE29612157U1 - Fabrics, knitted fabrics and knitted fabrics for warning clothing - Google Patents

Description

Description

The invention describes woven fabrics, knitted fabrics or knitted fabrics that are designed with luminous colors in accordance with the European standard EN 471 and/or prEN 1150 for warning clothing and have a novel optical color impression.

The purpose of warning clothing is to improve the visibility of the respective user in hazardous areas. To this end, warning clothing is equipped with textile elements that clearly distinguish the wearer from his surroundings and thus noticeably increase his visibility and passive safety. These textile elements consist of a background material, which is a colorful fluorescent material of the highest conspicuity. A fluorescent material is described as a material that emits optical radiation at longer wavelengths than it absorbs. The textile elements can also be equipped with fluororeflective properties.

An item of clothing made from fluorescent material is described in the utility model DE GM 79 14 905 (applicant: Sportartikelfabrik Karl UhI GmbH, Baiingen). In this utility model, an item of outer clothing for athletes is made entirely or partially from a fluorescent material, or parts of the base material are colored with fluorescent dye. In another utility model DE GM 78 36 855 (applicant: Konrad Mende, Teunz), a warning bandage consists of self-luminous fibers or fibers made from fluorescent material. In addition to these utility models, there are many different uses for fluorescent material, such as in sports, emergency services or the simple labeling of clothing, e.g. clothing for schoolchildren or school bags. The wide range of colors of fluorescent materials is used here without any special requirements being placed on them. These fabrics cannot generally be equated with those used for high-visibility clothing, as they are made of fluorescent material but do not have to meet any legal standard regarding the quality of their fluorescence.

Fabrics in fluorescent colours used for high-visibility clothing are subject to the high requirements of the European standard EN

471. This standard specifies, among other things, the requirements for conspicuous materials for work clothing. The colours specified are fluorescent yellow, orange-red and red. These colours must have colour values that lie within standardised colour value key points and a minimum luminance factor ßmin specified for the luminous colour. EN 471 therefore specifies performance requirements for the colour and its fluorescent properties.
The same applies to the European standard prEN 1150. This standard specifies the optical performance requirements for clothing for adults and young people for non-professional use. High-visibility clothing that complies with this standard is intended to visually distinguish the user in all daylight conditions and in the dark when illuminated by vehicle headlights. In contrast to EN 471, this standard allows the luminous colours yellow, yellow-green, orange, yellow-orange, red, orange-red and pink.

Materials intended for use in warning clothing are given their standardized color by being dyed or coated with EN-compliant luminous colors after their manufacturing process.

It is also common to use games that have already been pre-colored with fluorescent colors. However, the main focus is always on ensuring that the fluorescent color complies with EN standards.

The disadvantage of the process is that only a very limited range of colors and color appearance is possible by dyeing or coating the finished materials. This can be explained by the fact that, on the one hand, only the colors yellow, orange-red and red are permitted and, on the other hand, the intensity and possible color ranges are specified by EN 471 (prEEN 1150). Only slight, usually barely visible gradations within a color are possible without falling outside the requirements of EN 471 (prEN 1150).

This means that in the final application of warning clothing, only the three standardized, uniform color ranges are encountered, which offer little opportunity to differentiate between the different areas of application of warning clothing. One example of this is the warning color bright orange, which always has the same appearance whether used in road construction, street cleaning or on the railways. This is a problem for many manufacturers and users of

High-visibility clothing is criticized because there is no way to visually differentiate oneself from one’s competitors.

The wish of many manufacturers and users of warning colours and warning clothing is therefore to stand out visually from one another and yet still meet the high requirements of EN 471 (prEN 1150).

This resulted in the task of producing fabrics, warp-knitted and knitted fabrics with different optical colour spectra of the luminous colours, which at the same time meet the requirements of EN 471 (prEN 1150) for high-visibility clothing.

This object was achieved according to the invention in that, during the production of woven, knitted or warp-knitted fabrics made from at least two dyed yarns, at least one yarn is pre-dyed in a luminous color and is processed with at least a second dyed yarn. The second yarn is pre-dyed with a preferably non-fluorescent dye. By processing a fluorescent yarn with a non-fluorescent yarn, a completely new look is created for the fabric produced. The new look is reflected in the resulting mixed color of the fabric. The luminous colors used for the yarns, defined as luminous red, luminous yellow and luminous orange-red, as well as the luminous colors of the finished fabrics are still within the prescribed color limits of EN 471 (prEN 1150).
With the materials produced according to the invention, it is possible for different users of warning materials to visually distinguish themselves from one another and still meet the prescribed requirements for warning clothing.

The processing of differently pre-dyed yarns, at least one of which is fluorescent, offers a completely new visual appearance within the framework of EN 471 (prEN 1150). The different variation options (yellow/red, red/white, orange/red-orange,...) result in materials that mainly look mixed-colored and yet still meet EN 471 (prEN 1150). This offers more diverse differentiation options in the visual design of warning clothing than was previously possible. It is therefore possible to classify warning clothing according to certain professional groups using the color design.

The yarns consist of synthetic and/or native fibers. Polyester is the preferred synthetic fiber. Synthetic fibers made of polyamide, polyurethane or polyacrylic are also possible. Native fibers such as cotton, wool and linen are usually used for yarns pre-dyed with non-fluorescent colors.

The yarns are given the appropriate color during the manufacturing process via a spinning fiber dyeing process. In this dyeing process, commercially available luminous dyes are added to the spinning mass, which consists of synthetic fibers. These color pigments are embedded in the fibers themselves. Very authentic colors can be achieved with this dyeing process.

It is also possible for the second yarn to be in a fluorescent color, but it is also possible for this second yarn to be processed without any color at all. The fact that at least one yarn is always pre-dyed in fluorescent color does not mean that the standards of EN 471 (prEN 1150) are not exceeded. In this case, we can also speak of a discount on the fabrics, knits and warp-knitted fabrics, namely when the second yarn is in its simplest form in white or natural color. In this way, a material can be produced that is cheap to manufacture and still has a minimum luminance factor in accordance with EN 471 (prEN 1150).

In terms of weave technology, the differently colored yarns are connected to one another using a twill, satin or plain weave and variations thereof. A preferred type of weave is the multi-ridge twill. Twill weaves or multi-ridge twills have the advantage that the surface of the fabric is not determined in the same way by the warp and weft threads. The weave points of the warp and weft threads are constantly offset so that a so-called twill ridge is created (a slightly bulging elevation), which can be more or less pronounced depending on the type of yarn, weave and setting. A particularly expressive ridge can be formed using multi-ridge twills. With a fabric surface designed in this way, the fluorescent yarns can be shown off particularly well.

For the sake of simplicity, only two yarns will be discussed below, but in practice it is usual for the warp and weft threads to be made of yarns and/or twisted yarns.

It is also possible to produce multi-coloured warning clothing, with the fabric having a different predominant colour on the front and back. This makes it possible to replace at least two fabrics with one fabric. This makes it possible to produce items of clothing that can be worn in the desired colour as desired or for the purpose (e.g. so-called reversible jackets and vests).

The fabrics, wovens and knitted fabrics produced can also be laminated in the usual way. In this way, the materials can be equipped with a waterproof and breathable membrane. This also makes it possible to offer weatherproof warning clothing with different luminous optics.

The fabrics, warps and knits in fluorescent colours can be processed into high-visibility clothing in accordance with the European standards EN 471 and prEN 1150.

In the following, the invention will be explained using examples.

The processing according to the invention of at least one yarn pre-dyed in fluorescent colors (yellow, orange-red, red) can be carried out in various variations. The yarn pre-dyed in fluorescent colors can preferably be woven with a yarn pre-dyed in non-fluorescent colors or with an undyed yarn. The second yarn can also be in fluorescent colors.

The following illustrations illustrate the inventive concept using selected combinations:

Fig.1 Binding pattern/binding cartridge for comparison purposes, without
&agr; Representation of the weave of the threads, consisting of 100%

brightly colored material
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Fig.2 Two-colour binding pattern/binding cartridge of the derived
Twill weave, weave: twill 2/1

Fig.3 Weave pattern/weave pattern of the derived twill weave, where the warp threads are made of a dyed yarn (red) and the weft threads are made of

a yarn in fluorescent colours (bright orange-red),
Weave type: Cross twill 3/1

Fig.4 graphical representation of the standardized color locations for bright orange-red (1) and bright red (2) according to EN 471

Fig.5 Garment compared with conventional (3) and

inventive (4) warning materials, binding: multi-ridge twill

The simple weave shown in Fig. 1 is for comparison purposes only and illustrates the optical appearance of 100% fluorescent colored material, which is uniform and consistent. The requirements for the fluorescent colors of background material can be seen in Table 1. The color location must lie within the corner points of the color ranges defined in this table and have the minimum luminance factor required in Table 1.

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Table 1: Colour for background material according to EN 471

Color Standard color value components of the corner points y Minimum epidemic 0.610 density factor ßmin X 0.494 fluorescent 0.387 0.452 Yellow 0.356 0.540 0.76 0.398 0.390 0.460 0.376 fluorescent 0.610 0.341 Orange red 0.544 0.344 0.40 0.579 0.344 0.655 0.341 fluorescent 0.655 0.314 Red 0.579 0.310 0.25 0.606 0.690

Fig. 2 shows a two-coloured weave pattern/weave pattern, the type of weave shown, a twill weave, which can preferably be used for the production of warning fabrics. This is because the twill weave creates a so-called twill burr and gives the surface of the fabric an uneven surface. In particular, multi-burr twills with a particularly pronounced burr can make the yarns in luminous colours stand out particularly well from the surface of the fabric. In addition, the plain and satin weave and their modifications are equally suitable for producing such fabrics. The invention extends equally to knitted and crocheted fabrics.
The yarns are made of synthetic and/or native fibers, polyester fibers (PES) are preferred as synthetic fibers. Fibers made of polyamide, polyurethane or polyacrylic are also possible. The native fibers, such as cotton, wool or linen, are usually intended for yarns in non-fluorescent colors.

The yarns get their luminous color through the dyeing of the spun fibers, in which the luminous dyes are already added to the spinning mass.
The light boxes in Fig.2 represent the warp threads, which are pre-dyed in a fluorescent color (bright orange-red). The dark boxes indicate the weft threads, pre-dyed in a non-fluorescent

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Colour (blue). By processing these two differently coloured yarns, a mixed coloured fabric is obtained, whereby the bright orange-red is the main colour and, due to its properties as a luminous colour, gives the entire fabric a conspicuous appearance in accordance with EN 471.
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In Fig. 3, at least one yarn is processed in luminous colors according to the invention; in this example, it is also the warp threads. In one sample produced, bright orange-red was used as the luminous color.
This binding link/binding cartridge represents a binding that can convey the new visual impression very well. The weft threads are pre-dyed red yarns and form a uniform colored background. The bright orange-red warp threads

a . run purely optically as bright diagonal lines across the red

Background. The red color is pushed into the background by the luminosity of the warp threads, but acts as a contrasting color to the bright orange-red and, in conjunction with the weave, creates a lively look. The result is a bright, multi-colored surface look.

The spun-dyed yarns used in a sample meet the requirements for luminescent colours according to EN 471 (prEN 1150) in that the colour location lies within the colour ranges for fluorescent orange-red defined by the corner points in Table 1 and has the required minimum luminance factor. This can be illustrated with the help of Fig. 4. This figure shows a diagram in which based on the corner points defined in Table 1, the

φ Color ranges for the fluorescent colors fluorescent orange-red (1) and fluorescent red (2)

are shown. In the diagram, two points are marked in the bright orange-red color range (1). They represent the color location and were measured on manufactured samples for background material, as shown schematically in Fig.1 and Fig.3.

The color measurement is carried out in accordance with CIE publication no. 15.2. with polychromatic illumination of standard illuminant Dß5, measuring geometry 45/0 and 2° standard observer. The sample must be covered with a black base with a reflectance of less than 0.04.

The point Xi marked in the diagram corresponds to a sample that was made of 100% bright orange-red material (Fig. 1). The color location is clearly in the color range for bright orange-red (1) in the sense of the European standard. The point X2 characterizes comparatively

a sample woven according to the invention and shown schematically in Fig.3. It is clearly visible that the colour location lies within the corner points of the colour range bright orange-red (1) and thus fulfils the requirements of EN 471.
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In Fig. 5, a further comparison shows the difference between conventional (3) and the warning materials according to the invention (4). On the right side of the clothing, as in Fig. 1, 100% luminous material (3) can be seen. In comparison, the left side of the clothing shows a material woven according to the invention (4), whereby the warp thread was processed in a luminous color and the weft thread in a non-luminous color. The same weave is used on both sides of the clothing.

&agr; (multi-grade twill) and the same yarn material was used.

The optical differences between the two materials are clearly visible.

In addition, by choosing the right weave and the luminous colors, you can create a product with different colors on the right and left sides of the fabric, where, for example, the right side of the fabric is bright orange and the left side is bright red. In this way, at least two fabrics can be replaced with one fabric.

Further possibilities include processing these materials into reversible jackets or vests

It is also possible to laminate these fabrics with waterproof and breathable membranes in order to be able to produce waterproof and

φ to produce breathable warning clothing.

The fabrics produced using the process according to the invention are intended for high-visibility clothing covered by the European standard EN 471.

It is intended to be used primarily in rescue services, railways, road construction, garbage collection and for various types of security services. Another possible use is in accordance with prEN 1150 as warning clothing for non-professional use, for example for school crossing guards and children's clothing. This offers the user the opportunity to use a wide variety of different patterns in terms of color and appearance, which nevertheless meet the legal standards for luminous colors for warning clothing.

The fabrics, knits and warp-knitted items produced in warning colours can also be completely processed into items of clothing.

Claims (1)

Expectations 1. Woven fabrics and knitted fabrics in fluorescent colours for clothing, made from at least two dyed yarns, characterised in that at least one yarn is in a standardised Pre-dyed with luminous color and processed with at least a second dyed yarn. 2. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics for warning clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that the luminous colours are yellow, orange-red and red. 3. Fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics for clothing for non-professional use according to claim 1, characterized in that the luminous colours are yellow, yellow-green, orange, yellow orange, red, orange-red and pink. 4. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics for clothing according to claims 1-3 characterized in that they meet the requirements of the European standard EN 471 and prEN 1150 for high-visibility clothing. 5. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the yarns consist of synthetic and/or native fibers. 6. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the yarns preferably consist of polyester 7. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the yarns are dyed by spun fiber dyeing. Receive luminous colors. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in addition to the at least first yarn pre-dyed in luminous colors, other yarns used are also pre-dyed in luminous colors are pre-colored. 9. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in addition to the at least first yarn pre-dyed in luminous colors, the other yarns used can also be undyed. 10. Fabric according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the weaving process is carried out using a twill, satin or plain weave. 11. Fabric according to claim 10, characterized in that the The preferred weave of the fabric construction is a multi-ridge twill. 12. Woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics in luminous colours according to claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the fabric sides of the fabrics produced each have a different predominant colour exhibit. 13. Fabrics, knitted fabrics and crocheted fabrics in luminous colours according to claims 1 to 12, characterised in that they are provided with a membrane to make them waterproof and breathable. 14. Warning clothing according to one of claims 1-13.